Scripps Institution of Oceanography

🌊 What does it take to keep watch over an ocean that never stops moving? Scripps graduate student Charles Lindsay got a firsthand look during a California Current Ecosystem moorings research cruise.

The researchers were on a mission to upgrade a network of oceanographic moorings that continuously track conditions off Southern California, from temperature and oxygen to signals of ocean acidification and ecosystem change.

A new “mini-mooring,” which is roughly the size of a microwave, was deployed off Point Conception, a particularly dynamic part of the California Current. Its sensors will help scientists track oxygen and temperature and better understand processes including ocean acidification, phytoplankton growth and carbon cycling.

The CCE moorings are funded by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing and the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program, with contributions from NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center and the National Science Foundation (NSF) California Current Ecosystem Long-Term Ecological Research program. Mini-moorings are also supported by the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System.

▶️ Head to the story to join Charles on the cruise and get a behind-the-scenes look at the science, teamwork and unexpected challenges involved in monitoring our changing ocean: https://bit.ly/3TLgvVr

🌱 How can marine microbes help make agriculture more sustainable?

🌿 Meet Nao Song, an upcoming third-year marine biology undergraduate with a minor in geosciences at Scripps Oceanography! As a part of the Diaz Lab, they research how applying microalgae to agricultural soil may increase the amount of phosphorus available to plants.

♻️ Phosphorus is essential for crop growth, but most agricultural phosphorus currently comes from mined reserves, which are being rapidly depleted. Song’s research explores whether microalgae could offer a more sustainable way to supply this essential resource.

“Personally, it’s something about thinking, “I could do something to improve that!” that just scratches an itch in my mind,” Nao said. “I love getting to design and look at things from all sorts of angles. From parts of necessary experimental setup to small quality-of-life improvements, it is something that I have done since before I can remember.”

Learn more about Nao’s research by visiting the link in our comments. ⤵️

⛰️ Using volcanic histories, rock records, and sediments preserved in nearby basins, a study led by Scripps Oceanography geoscientist Tomas Capaldi has revealed new insights into how the iconic southern Andes Mountains formed.

The researchers identified a new mechanism that explains how mountain belts can expand far into continents—and why that growth happens in recurring pulses. Rather than rising slowly and steadily, the Andes appear to have grown in short, powerful “pulses” occurring every few million years.

“Mountain belts leave behind measurable ‘vital signs’ in their volcanic, structural, and sedimentary records. In this study, we tune into the heartbeat of the Andes,” said Capaldi.

Read more about the study, published in Nature Communications, to learn how these ancient pulses helped shape one of the world’s great mountain ranges. ⤵️

How Mountains Are Really Made Scientists have discovered that the southern Andes Mountains don’t rise slowly and steadily as previously thought. Instead, the range builds itself in short, powerful “pulses” every few million years.

🦐 It's here: the ocean personality quiz you've been waiting for!

What if your personality matched a local benthic invertebrate?

We asked Charlotte Seid, manager of the Benthic Invertebrate Collection at Scripps Oceanography, to share fun facts about some of Southern California's incredible ocean critters and the personality traits they might have.

🌊 So, which one are you? Drop your match in the comments! Head to the link in our comments to learn more about the Benthic Invertebrate Collection at Scripps!

🌊 The ocean is losing one of life's most essential ingredients: oxygen.

A new Scripps Oceanography-led review warns that declining oxygen levels in oceans, lakes, rivers and streams are pushing Earth toward an "unsafe space," with consequences that could last far beyond our lifetimes.

The researchers propose adding aquatic deoxygenation to the Planetary Boundaries framework, recognizing oxygen loss as a global challenge alongside climate change, biodiversity loss and ocean acidification. Read more about the study. ⤵️

Underwater Oxygen Loss Threatens Earth’s Stability, Researchers Warn A new review paper led by scientists at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography warns that the rapid loss of oxygen from the ocean and other aquatic ecosystems is pushing Earth toward an “unsafe space,” with consequences that could be irreversible on human timescales.

🐋🎤 What can whale songs tell us about life off the California coast? 🌊

Meet Michaela Alksne, a fifth-year PhD candidate studying biological oceanography at Scripps Oceanography! In the Scripps Acoustic Ecology Lab, she studies baleen whale acoustic ecology and biogeography, using sound to better understand where whales are, when they migrate, and how their presence changes over time.

Scripps researchers have been recording baleen whale sounds off the coast of California since the early 2000s. Michaela is using those long-term acoustic recordings to study whale habitat preferences, migratory patterns, song structure, and changes in their distribution. Her work helps build predictive models that support effective population management! 🐳

“In the lab, the most exciting thing is when I find that my research, which may have taken months or years to compile and interpret, adds value or new knowledge to a particular area of study,” Michaela said. “For me, that moment of clarity, where I can situate my work within the broader scientific literature and articulate its novel contribution, is the most rewarding and exciting part of being an early-career scientist.” 💙

Learn more about Michaela's research: https://bit.ly/4fCAP3F

🌅 It's been a while since we've shared a sunset photo, so here are a few from our friend on Instagram. 😎

🎬🦈 Recent Scripps Oceanography graduate and current master's student Claire Miller turned her love of sharks (and movies) into a creative science communication project, so for , we’re shining the spotlight on ‘Fishes of the Red Carpet’!

Created as a final project for her Biology of Fishes course (aka SIO 188), Claire developed a ranking system that evaluates films on shark biology, behavior, conservation messaging, scientific accuracy and, of course, entertainment value. From blockbuster classics to over-the-top cult favorites, the project explores how movies shape public perceptions of sharks, and why those portrayals matter.

"I wanted to create the website so that it had a longer-lasting impact on the public," Claire said. "My goal is for more people to read about why these movies aren't accurate and why a lot of the stereotypes they're perpetuating are harmful."

Today, Claire is continuing her studies in the Scripps Whale Acoustics Lab, where she researches narwhal acoustics. But her passion for sharks inspired her to turn a class assignment into a resource anyone can explore.

"I hope people take the time to laugh at how ridiculous some of the movies are, but also realize that the version of sharks they see in films isn't the reality,” she said.

🎥🌊By blending science, conservation and pop culture, Fishes of the Red Carpet reminds us that sharks aren't the villains Hollywood often makes them out to be—they're remarkable animals that play a vital role in healthy ocean ecosystems. Check out the site: https://bit.ly/4pLJyE3