Oceanography (Audio)

Barbara Taylor explains that the reason for Vaquitas’ near extinction is because they share a habitat with the highly sought-after Totoaba, a fish in high demand for their swim bladders. The vaquita get caught in the nets cast to catch these fish and drown in large numbers. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Science] [Show ID: 31329]

Barbara Taylor debunks the idea that Vaquita could be dying naturally and for reasons out of human’s control. She states that the only real and true cause for their extremely rapid decline is overfishing in their habitat. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Science] [Show ID: 31326]

Barbara Taylor shares some rare footage of the Vaquita enjoying their natural habitat and explains why this dolphin in particular is shrouded in so much mystery, and how this weakens its chances of surviving overfishing. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Science] [Show ID: 31327]

Barbara Taylor of the National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Fisheries Science Center, who participated in the last effort to save the recently extinct Chinese River Dolphin, or Baiji, gives a detailed chronicle of her involvement in documenting the decline of earth’s most endangered marine mammal, the Vaquita, found only in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico. Their primary threat is death in gillnets, which until very recently supplied shrimp to the U.S. market. The catastrophic 80% decline since 2011 results from illegal sales of endangered totoaba swim bladders to China. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 30921]

Reef-building corals are generally located in low-nutrient environments. Their growth and health are strongly influenced by ocean turbulence, which facilitates the exchange of nutrients and larvae between the coastal region and the open ocean. Changes in climate also affect how contaminants are flushed from the coast and can have important implications for wave-induced storm surge as well as tsunami inundation. Focusing on coral reefs, Eugene Pawlak, associate professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UC San Diego discusses the role of hydrodynamic processes, including internal waves and turbulence, in coastal environments. Pawlak is presented as part of the UC San Diego Founders Symposium 2014. Series: "UC San Diego Founders’ Symposium" [Science] [Show ID: 29031]

Southern California has been bracing for the effects of a strong El Niño year, with concerns about large surf, heavy rainfall, and coastal flooding on the minds of all of us who call the Southern California Coast home. Join us to learn about how El Nino is impacting our urban coastal zone and how coastal monitoring, including a community-based observing program, Urban Tides, is essential for informing how we adapt to rising seas. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 30659]

Experts from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, NOAA and UC San Diego capture the imaginations of high school students interested in green technology as they demonstrate how their research helps to protect and preserve the ocean. Ralph Keeling and Stephen Mayfield keynote on CO2 emissions and algae biotechnology, followed by Chef Rob Ruiz, Noelle Bowlin of NOAA and Jessica Blanton of Scripps on their careers in studying and serving sustainable fish. Series: "STEAM: Adding Arts to STEM Education" [Science] [Show ID: 30649]

Margaret Leinen, a paleo-oceanographer and climatologist who is now the director of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, shares tales of leading the University of California’s delegation to the Paris Climate Conference, the career path that began in the Midwest and moved out to sea, and her excitement about the imminent arrival of the Research Vessel Sally Ride, named for the late astronaut who was the first American woman in space. Leinen speaks with Karen Flammer, the director of education for Sally Ride Science@UC San Diego aboard the R/V Melville in the San Diego Bay. Series: "Women in Science" [Public Affairs] [Science] [Show ID: 30330]

Learn more about the amazing seadragons, as well as the recent discovery of a new species: the Ruby Seadragon, one of only three species of these charismatic fishes that live exclusively in the waters off southern Australia. Join graduate student Josefin Stiller, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, to learn how she and her advisors discovered the new species and how genetic diversity data is helping inform conservation efforts for these beautiful animals. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 30405]

A virtual tour of the Englekirk Structural Engineering Center and the role it will play in preparing infrastructure for natural hazards, how the ocean influences mediterranean climate, how microbes benefit pine trees, the social life of bluebirds, and a very Smart Puppy all on this edition of OnBeyond. Series: "On Beyond" [Science] [Show ID: 30178]