Pink Dye Experiment to Reveal Mysteries of Coastal Ocean Dynamics
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Published: 20 January 2023
UC San Diego researchers are releasing non-toxic pink dye at Los Peñasquitos Lagoon to study how small freshwater plumes mix with surfzone waves, tracking dispersion via drones, sensors, and a jet ski fluorometer.
Keywords: pink dye, freshwater plumes, surfzone, Los Peñasquitos Lagoon, oceanography, UC San Diego, NSF-funded
Increased Atmospheric Dust has Masked Power of Greenhouse Gases to Warm Planet
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Published: 20 January 2023
A new study finds that rising desert dust since the 1800s has slightly cooled the planet, partially offsetting greenhouse gas warming. Declines in dust could accelerate future warming, highlighting gaps in climate model accuracy.
Keywords: desert dust, climate cooling, greenhouse gases, atmospheric particles, global warming, climate models, Scripps/UCLA
SalpPOOP Study Highlights Biogeochemical Importance of Zooplankton Fecal Pellets
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Published: 2 February 2023
Salp blooms in the Southern Ocean can increase carbon export to the deep ocean up to fivefold by rapidly sinking fecal pellets, enhancing carbon sequestration and complementing phytoplankton’s role in mitigating atmospheric CO₂.
Keywords: salps, carbon export, phytoplankton, Southern Ocean, deep ocean sequestration, Scripps, marine ecology
