Research Groups
MSI – Research Experience and Education Facility (REEF): Part of the Marine Science Institute’s (MSI), REEF is a interactive aquarium facility that has Oceans-to-Classrooms (O2C) education and outreach program, The REEF is equipped with state-of-the-art touch tanks and aquaria, from 2 to 2,000 gallons. The REEF also utilizes a high-tech life support system for the Research Tank, which highlights current, on-going research at UCSB and the Marine Science Institute.
Individuals
Dr. Carlson's research focuses on microbial oceanography. More specifically, his research focuses on the role marine microbes play in the cycling of elements through oceanic dissolved organic matter. The applications of this research will help to understand how microbial processes affect the production and consumption of organic matter within the oceanic carbon cycle.
Marine Science Institute
Bermuda Institute of Ocean Science
Dr. Caylor's research addresses the coupled feedbacks between terrestrial vegetation and surface hydrological dynamics, with a focus on the causes and consequences of spatial patterns in plants and their accompanying root systems within water-limited landscapes. The research approach integrates theoretical development, field observations, and simulation modeling to develop new insight into the complex ecohydrological controls on water balance in water-limited landscapes. Dr. Caylor examines these topics at a number of spatial and temporal scales; from patch-level experimental and observational work to regional-scale investigations that rely heavily on numerical modeling and the application of remote sensing technologies.
Earth Research Institute
Professor Clark's research focuses on topics in the field of aqueous geochemistry. By analyzing anthropogenic and natural tracers in bodies of water, Professor Clark is able to study how flow patterns affect the quality of water, the transfer of water, and gas exchange across the air-water interface. His current research projects include the chemical evolution of shallow groundwater, groundwater flow near managed aquifer recharge sites, stream/ground water interactions, and groundwater flow in the upper ocean crust on the flank of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. In the past, he has also examined the fate of methane near shallow hydrocarbon seeps.
Earth Research Institute
Marine Science Institute
Dr. Cooper's research has been centered on the factors that determine the abundances and distributions of aquatic organisms. Past research foci have included the impacts of acid deposition, livestock grazing, pollution, climate change, exotic species, and native species loss on freshwater ecosystems. Currently, much of his work revolves around the effects of land use changes, fire, and forestry practices on streams in California, and on the ecology and conservation of steelhead populations in southern California.
Marine Science Institute
Debora Iglesias-Rodriguez has worked for twenty years on diversity and function in marine phytoplankton combining molecular approaches, carbon physiology and biogeochemistry in the lab and in the field. Her team has been working on identifying mechanisms controlling plankton calcification under rising carbon dioxide (CO2) scenarios [ocean acidification (OA)]. This is important at a time when we are witnessing the fastest rate of change in CO2 that the Earth has seen for the past 65 million years.
Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Marine Science
Dr. Luyendyk has studied the marine seep systems offshore of the UCSB campus. Other research interests include Antarctic climate evolution in which he participated in projects that aim to capture a record of some of the earth's global climate transitions.
Earth Research Institute
Dr. MacIntyre’s research focuses primarily on the physical processes in lakes and coastal zones and their biogeochemical and ecological consequences. She is developing new models of the gas transfer coefficient as needed for accurate estimates of regional and global carbon fluxes. Her studies are ongoing in Arctic and Subarctic lakes; Mono Lake, CA; tropical lakes in East Africa and the Amazon Basin; and the waters of coastal California.
Earth Research Institute
Marine Science Institute
Dr. Nisbet's research covers many areas of theoretical ecology. Much of his work is based on Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) theory to describe the rates at which individual organisms assimilate and utilize energy. His research group develops new fundamental theory and applies it to Environmental problems. Applications include ecotoxicology, coral biology, zooplankton ecology, and fish bioenergetics.
Marine Science Institute
University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology
Dr. Siegel studies interdisciplinary marine science which couples physical, biological, optical, and biogeochemical processes. He has recently worked on collecting large scale ocean data by using ocean color variability from satellites. Differences in color can indicate distinguishing characteristics such as temperature and the overall biochemistry of the water. This data allows scientists to observe long-term trends and better understand the role oceans play in climate change as well as ascertain what marine ecosystems might look like in the future.
Carsey-Wolf Institute
Marine Science Institute
Dr. Washburn's research focuses on oceanographic studies to understand how ocean circulation processes affect marine ecosystems in coastal-ocean environments. He is currently researching circulation patterns in the California Current System and particularly in Southern California where human activities strongly affect the coastal ocean. He works with a number of agencies and universities in the operation of coastal-ocean observing systems to detect signals of climate change and mitigate coastal hazards, both natural and anthropogenic, Washburn's lab employs a number of observational technologies including a network of high-frequency radars for continuous mapping of ocean surface currents. In addition to scientific applications, data from this network provide other societal benefits including support for search and rescue operations of the US Coast Guard, tracking of oil spills, and monitoring of harmful algal blooms.
Marine Science Institute
Professor Weldeab's research focuses on the reconstruction and understanding of past monsoon rainfall variability; thermal, salinity, and productivity history of the oceans; and linkages between tropical oceans and high latitude climate and their interaction with and effect on the monsoon systems. One of Professor Weldeab's recent projects involved assessing seawater Nd isotope signatures. His research uses marine sediment cores and the application of stable and radiogenic isotopes and trace element to study climate evolution in the past.
Professor Valentine's current research projects include the study of the microbial weathering of hydrocarbon compounds released into marine Environments as well as methods of Environmental remediation and biofuel production. His research aims to achieve a better understanding of the distribution, evolution and activity of microbial communities and their interaction with chemicals present in their Environment.