UC San Diego Scientists Persevere in Antarctic Research Despite Funding Challenges
Scientists from UC San Diego's Scripps Oceanography are currently conducting vital research in Antarctica, despite funding challenges and resource shortages affecting the National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs. The team is studying a wide range of topics, from microbial life and biogeochemical processes to ice loss mechanisms and climate history in the Antarctic region.
Dr. Karen Lloyd, a researcher from Jeff Bowman's lab, is currently in the field, focusing on microbial life and biogeochemical processes in extreme cold environments in Antarctica. Meanwhile, Jamin Greenbaum is investigating the impact of meltwater on ice loss in both West and East Antarctic Ice Sheets. In West Antarctica, Christian Johnson is exploring the impact of melting glaciers on phytoplankton and developing environmental DNA (eDNA) sequencing at sea. Austin Carter is drilling ice cores in the Allan Hills region to study Earth's climate history in Antarctica, with samples to be analyzed by Scripps scientists.
Back at Scripps Oceanography, a leading center for global earth science research and education, projects include studying phytoplankton diversity, penguin guano, ancient ice, and marine microbes' roles in food webs in Antarctica. Beth Connors is studying bacteria and carbon cycling in Antarctic food webs from Palmer Station. In East Antarctica, Tyler Pelle and Briar Conger are part of the ICECAP-EAGLE project studying Shackleton Ice Shelf's stability in Antarctica.
Despite funding challenges, Scripps Polar Center at UC San Diego continues its commitment to Antarctic research, with a team of dedicated scientists exploring crucial aspects of our planet's climate and ecosystems in Antarctica. Their findings will contribute to our understanding of the impacts of climate change and help inform future conservation efforts in the Antarctic region.
