News archives

Image of Earth

Atmospheric Rivers Explain Atypical El Niño and La Niña Years

These rivers in the sky don’t play by El Niño or La Niña’s rules

Seawater samples collected as January 2025 fires in Los Angeles raged.

Marine Ecosystem Survey Encounters a New Variable: Falling Ash from Los Angeles Fires

CalCOFI cruise documents ash deposits as far as 100 miles offshore

2025 California wildfires

California Wildfire Analysis from Scripps Oceanography Climate Experts

Scripps Oceanography experts answer questions on the Los Angeles wildfires

mangroves on the coast of Mexico

Mangrove Loss in Acapulco Likely Worsened the Devastation of Hurricane Otis

Researchers find mangroves are key to reducing hurricane impacts, protecting vulnerable communities, and mitigating climate change

Spinner dolphin in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo: Scripps Oceanography 2012 NOAA NMES Permit # 779-1633

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Correlates with Steep Declines in Whale Populations

After 2010 Deepwater Horizon incident, some Gulf of Mexico species densities declined as much as 83%

WC 130 Super Hercules Plane

Taking Flight: UC San Diego Shaping Future of Atmospheric River Forecasting

The Atmospheric River Reconnaissance program flies into storms to improve forecasts with the help of AI

A Scientist’s Life: Amina Schartup

Marine biogeochemist studies contaminants in seafood

Kerstin Bergentz (left) at COP29 climate conference, Nov. 14, 2024. Photo: Vanessa Miniss

Crude Realities

A report from the COP29 climate talks in Baku

CDIP buoy deployment

Scripps-Led Coastal Data Information Program Awarded $40 Million for Cooperative Research

Funding will support advances in wave measurements, improved understanding of coastal changes

Woolsey Fire

Unhoused People Are Highly Vulnerable to Wildfire Smoke

Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions

Kelp bass, a popular target of recreational anglers, in Southern California’s coastal waters.

Study Finds Pattern in DDT Contamination Among Fish off Southern California

The findings could help predict fish toxin levels and inform fish consumption advisories

Ocean Pavilion design

The Ocean Pavilion Returns to International Climate Conference for a Third Year

Leading science institutions and partners will make the case for greater inclusion of the ocean at COP29

Domoic acid producing Pseudo-nitzschia diatom in seawater sample. Image:  G. Jason Smith / Moss Landing Marine Labs. Satellite image shows increasing chlorophyll concentration at California coast. Image: Mati Kahru

Scientists Discover Molecular Predictors of Toxic Algal Blooms

Genes that act as warning beacon for dangerous neurotoxin identified

Photo of Dickson Fjord landslide site taken Aug. 12, 2003 (left) and Sept. 19, 2023, three days after the event.

Climate Change-Triggered Landslide Unleashes a 650-Foot Mega-Tsunami

Wave created a seismic signal that lasted for nine days

2023 Turkey Earthquake collapsed house and street

Small and Large Earthquakes Don’t Play By the Same Rules

New model of the physics governing earthquake behavior could improve preparedness

Technician runs an assay of the guanitoxin test material. Photo: Diagnostic Technology

Patent Filed for Novel Method to Detect Toxin in Fresh Water

Test kits now available to identify lethal neurotoxin-producing cyanobacteria

Marine stratocumulus clouds off the California coast. Photo: Pascal Polonik

Artificial Climate Controls Might Become Ineffective – Because of Climate Change

Cloud brightening cooling strategy stops working in models when natural systems respond to relentless warming

Trinidad Head AGAGE station which contributes N2O measurements. Photo: Backyard-Photography/istockphoto

Study Finds Nitrous Oxide Emissions Grew 40% over 40 Years, Accelerating Climate Change

Study Finds Nitrous Oxide Emissions Grew 40% over 40 Years, Accelerating Climate Change

A Scientist’s Life: Clarissa Anderson

Biological oceanographer predicts ocean hazards and creates a more informed public

DDT Pollutants Found in Deep Sea Fish off Los Angeles Coast

As the region reckons with its toxic history of offshore dumping, the new findings raise troubling questions about whether the banned pesticide remains a threat to wildlife and human health

CENIC Awards AI Fire-Detection Tool an “Innovations in Networking” Award for Innovations in Public Safety

The award recognizes exemplary people, projects, and organizations that leverage high-bandwidth networking

A drying lake near Ensenada, Mexico, 2019. Photo: Photo Beto/istockphoto

Study: Projected Changes in Extreme Precipitation Over Northern Mexico

Study finds that this understudied region may experience significant climate changes, impacting agriculture, the economy and infrastructure

Fire bears down on Los Angeles. Photo: ekash/istockphoto

Extreme Heat, Wildfires Combine to Disproportionately Harm Less Affluent and Communities of Color

California ZIP code-scale survey exposes need for rethinking of public policy, say researchers

Green-tinged image of a barrel-shaped object sitting on end on ocean floor.

Second Seafloor Survey of Dumpsite off Coast of Southern California Completed

Researchers mapped 135 square miles, found high volume of discarded military munitions

Flooding in Sunamganj in the Sylhet Division of northeastern Bangladesh in June 2022.

Three Decades of Data In Bangladesh Show Elevated Risk of Infant Mortality In Flood-Prone Areas

The findings reveal the long term public health burden of environmental hazards that are predicted to worsen under climate change

Sign Up For
Explorations Now

explorations now is the free award-winning digital science magazine from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Join subscribers from around the world and keep up on our cutting-edge research.