Perspectives on Ocean Science

Drilling down thousands of meters into the ancient ice preserved on earth’s massive continental ice sheets, scientists can extract a wealth of information about our climate history—including periods both much colder and considerably warmer than today. Ice, dust, and tiny gas bubbles in Greenland and Antarctic ice provide myriad clues into the complex workings of earth’s climate system. Join Jeff Severinghaus as he describes how he delves into earth’s climate past to gain insight into our climate future. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 27845]

East Africa is one of the most geologically intriguing places on the planet—a place where the African continent is literally ripping apart. Deep rift valleys, active volcanoes, and hot springs are dramatic evidence for the powerful forces deep within the earth that are slowly reshaping the continent. Join geochemist David Hilton on an adventure to the East African Rift Valley and learn how he and his colleagues utilize geologic samples to understand this dynamic region of our planet. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 27844]

Many marine animals produce a wide variety of audible as well as infra- and ultra-sonic sounds for navigating, finding food, mating and many other vital behaviors. With human use of the world’s oceans on the rise, background noise levels in the marine realm are increasing. Join Ana Sirovic as she discusses how ocean noise varies across the Pacific Ocean and what it may mean for whales, fish, and other animals that rely on sounds for their survival. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 26001]

Marine animals like the elusive beaked whale are notoriously difficult to study, as they are rarely seen. Fortunately, scientists can hear them! These animals use echolocation to forage and those sounds can be recorded in even the most remote and inaccessible areas of the ocean. Join Simone Baumann-Pickering as she details how patterns of echolocation are allowing scientists to document the natural acoustic behavior of a species, and determine if those natural patterns are being disturbed by man-made noise. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 26000]

Historically, Nassau grouper were considered one of the most important shallow water fisheries in the Caribbean, yet today they are rarely caught. Why has the species declined so precipitously, and what can be done to reverse the trend? Join Brice Semmens as he presents findings from the Grouper Moon project, a long-term research program in the Cayman Islands focused on the conservation of one of the last great populations of this endangered Caribbean icon. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 25958]

Ice caves on the Mt. Erebus Volcano, frozen lakes in the Dry Valleys and the ice covered McMurdo Sound offer diverse and extremely cold environments in which highly adapted microbial communities use chemical energy from rocks and volcanic gases to build new organic compounds. Join Hubert Staudigel as he presents initial laboratory results and stunning images from the 2012/13 field expedition, including SCUBA diving under the ice and alpine exploration of ice caves. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 25710]

Ocean acidification, the well-documented increase in ocean acidity resulting from increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide, poses threats to ocean ecosystems that are not yet fully understood. Join ocean chemist Andreas Andersson as he explains the basics of ocean acidification and how his research is allowing him to monitor the function and health of coral reef systems as the ocean changes. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 25709]

Beach closures resulting from sewage spills and excessive runoff are all too common along the southern California coast. Physical oceanographer Falk Feddersen has spent much of his career working to understand what happens to pollutants once they make into and past the surf zone. Join us to learn how a combination of coastal zone dye release experiments and oceanographic models help us learn more about how sewage is transported and diluted in the ocean. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 25708]

Manta rays are one of the most iconic and mysterious creatures in the sea, and they share several similarities with sharks—their elasmobranch cousins—including threats to their survival. Join Josh Stewart, a Scripps Ph.D. student and associate director of The Manta Trust, who describes the life of manta rays, threats to their populations around the world, and recent conservation successes that provide a ray of hope for this majestic species. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 25636]

The ocean's geology includes submerged volcanoes and deep trenches. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 5129]