Scripps Institution of Oceanography

10/16/2026

🌎🫨 Researchers at Scripps Oceanography and collaborators around the world are getting closer to understanding how forecasts of earthquake damage can be improved.

In a new study, scientists examined Myanmar’s devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake in March 2025. By combining satellite data, seismic recordings, ground observations and even video footage that captured the fault moving, the team reconstructed how the earthquake ruptured nearly 300 miles of the Sagaing Fault.

They found that the fault’s shape and the strain accumulated over time, helping to explain how the rupture traveled and where seismic energy was concentrated.

So, why does this matter for California? The Sagaing Fault shares important similarities with the San Andreas Fault. The findings could help scientists improve assessments of how future large earthquakes may rupture and where shaking could be most intense.

Learn more. ⤵️

Scientists do not have an ability to predict when earthquakes will occur, but a team announced today a major step toward knowing how mapped geologic faults may rupture in future large earthquakes and how forecasts of earthquake damage can be improved.

10/14/2026

❄️ It’s snowing in the deep sea. And this snow is SUPER gooey.

So, what exactly is this marine 'snow'? It's tiny clumps of mucus, p**p, dead plankton and other organic material that drift from the ocean’s surface toward the seafloor. This viscous stuff plays a HUGE role in Earth’s carbon cycle, carrying carbon from the atmosphere-connected surface ocean into the deep.

Now, scientists at Scripps Oceanography and the University of Lincoln have discovered that the gooier the marine snow, the better it can be at transporting carbon to the deep ocean. In fact, the stickiest particles could carry more than 6 times as much carbon to the deep as less-viscous ones.

Sink into the study. ⤵️

In the deep sea, it never stops snowing. The type of snow that falls in the ocean, known as marine snow, is very different from the flaky geometric wonders that fall on land. Marine snow describes tiny clumps of organic and inorganic detritus – think mucus, p**p, silt, dead plankton, etc. – that...

10/13/2026

🛰️🌎 What is the geoid, and how can it help us better understand sea-level rise? 🌊

Meet Tommy Stone, a fourth-year PhD student in applied ocean science at Scripps Oceanography!

With a background in physics and computational science, Tommy studies physical oceanography and the geoid, the shape the ocean surface would take if it were influenced only by gravity and the Earth’s rotation. By combining satellite altimetry, gravity measurements, ocean observations and computational models, he is developing methods to better understand how the sea level is changing.

“I wanted to apply my background in computational modeling to earth science and contribute to our understanding of physical systems. It was hard to pass up the opportunity to come to Scripps where I could learn more about the ocean while also using my current physics/computational science background.”

Tommy Stone is a fourth-year PhD student studying applied ocean science at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Originally from Oahu, Hawaii, Stone received his bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Washington, Seattle, and his master’s degree in computational science...

10/12/2026

⚠️ A strong El Niño can bring a triple threat for coastal hazards: heavier rainfall that can trigger landslides, powerful waves that accelerate beach and cliff erosion, and elevated sea levels that can worsen coastal flooding.

That's why Scripps Oceanography coastal geomorphologist Adam Young and his team at the Coastal Processes Group are closely monitoring the coast.

By mapping California's coastline before and after El Niño, scientists can see exactly how the coast responds, and the elevated sea levels during El Niño offer a glimpse into how our shores could respond to future sea-level rise.

The data collected now can help scientists better predict coastal hazards and prepare for what's ahead.

🎥 Watch Adam explain what El Niño could mean for California's coast, then head to this link to learn more: https://scripps.ucsd.edu/news/how-does-el-nino-impact-california-coast

10/09/2026

🔊 Healthy coral reefs are full of sound, from fish calls to the distinctive snaps of shrimp and crustaceans. Now, Scripps Oceanography scientists are finding that playing these underwater soundscapes could help bring reefs back to life. 🪸

In two new studies conducted in Hawaiʻi, researchers found that playing recordings of healthy reefs attracted more coral larvae and 4 to 14 times more fish larvae to experimental reef structures.

The team also found that combining reef sounds with engineered microhabitats and a bioactive coating containing living bacteria could help more coral larvae settle in and start building a reef.

Why does it matter? More fish can help keep algae in check, giving young corals a better chance to grow. It's a promising step toward hybrid reefs that combine biology, engineering and sound to support marine ecosystems and protect coastlines.

🎧 Want to hear what a healthy reef sounds like? Visit the Living Seas exhibit at Birch Aquarium at Scripps to listen to samples used in the research.

Head to the link below to dive into the research. ⤵️

Coral reefs are renowned for their visual beauty, but for the marine life they support, their sounds may be just as enticing. Two new studies led by UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography reveal how underwater acoustic enrichment — the playback of sounds from healthy reefs — can he...

10/07/2026

✨ 🌊 Bioluminescence lovers, you're going to want to watch this video!

Meet Erik Jepsen, the photographer for UC San Diego and San Diego bioluminescence's number one fan!

Any time the waters of San Diego are aglow, you can find him at the scene documenting the marine magic. So we decided to catch up with him to learn more about why he loves this work!

A little science for you: Bioluminescence occurs only when certain species of dinoflagellates or other organisms are present. In Southern California, Lingulaulax polyedra is the species most often responsible for these glowing displays. Each microscopic cell contains pigments that give it a reddish-brown color, which is why red tides appear colored during the day.

At night, when the phytoplankton are disturbed by waves or other movement in the water, they emit a neon-blue glow. Scientists think bioluminescence acts as a predator-avoidance mechanism, startling or confusing organisms that might eat the plankton.

If you're curious about monitoring plankton activity, head to the link below to dive deeper into weekly manual plankton sampling at Scripps Pier, funded by the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System. Although primarily used to track toxin-producing species, you can scroll to the bottom of the page to view data from the California Ocean Observing Systems portal for Scripps Pier, which shows weekly cell counts for the bioluminescent plankton: https://sccoos.org/harmful-algal-bloom/

❗ Just a heads up: Bioluminescence is currently being observed at locations around Mission Bay, not near Scripps Pier.

10/06/2026

🌿 KELP! We need some scientists.
🌊 KELP! Not just any scientists — stellar scientists at Scripps Oceanography!

With a powerful El Niño on the horizon, marine ecologist Jennifer Smith and her team at Scripps Oceanography are diving (literally) into a big question: How can we help California’s kelp forests weather what’s coming?

Often called the “redwoods of the sea,” kelp forests are underwater powerhouses. They provide habitat for marine life, support fisheries and coastal communities, and help buffer our coastlines. But warming oceans and marine heatwaves are making life tougher for these giant algae.

So Smith and her team are getting creative. They’re searching for heat-tolerant kelp, studying the genetic diversity of giant kelp, exploring how kelp can capture carbon, and even growing baby kelp on custom-made ceramic tiles before planting them in the wild.

Dive into the team’s kelp restoration research: https://scripps.ucsd.edu/news/kelp-help-meet-scientists-working-restore-our-underwater-forests

10/05/2026

🌎National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting that the coming El Niño could be among the strongest on record. So, what exactly does that mean?

In this San Diego Climate Week event, Scripps Oceanography scientists will share information on El Niño's connections to climate change and more.

📅 Wednesday, October 7
🕞 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
🔗 https://luma.com/g812l4au

10/04/2026

🐳 Name a person more stoked on studying, understanding and protecting whales than Scripps Oceanography alumna and whale watching guide Nicole Schriber – we’ll wait.

Nicole recently graduated from Scripps with a master’s degree in Marine Biology, where she worked with the Acoustic Ecology Lab to model baleen whale presence in Antarctica. She’s also a crew member with Gone Whale Watching San Diego — which means she gets to spend a lot of time around whales.

Recently, that work brought her face-to-face with a rare pod of Eastern Tropical Pacific orcas.

And Nicole didn’t just watch. She put her research skills to work, using photo identification to document and identify individual whales in the pod. These observations can help researchers better understand population dynamics, social interactions and other aspects of orca life.

If you’re interested in seeing orcas for yourself, Nicole recommends checking out a whale watching tour with a reputable and conservation-minded company.

Watch this video to learn more about orcas for World Animal Day!

10/02/2026

🌎 What is an El Niño?
💪🏽 What constitutes a 'strong' El Niño?

Watch this video to learn more, and be sure to head to the link to visit our El Niño Resource Hub: https://scripps.ucsd.edu/news/el-nino