Geoscience

Geological research at Scripps encompasses marine geology and geophysics, tectonics, sedimentology, paleooceanography, petrology and geochemistry, and isotope geology.

Geophysicists study the physics of the solid earth, including magnetic fields, tectonic processes, earthquakes and seismic waves, and the physics of Earth's interior.

Scripps geophysicists are examining the catastrophic effects that shifting ice sheets had on Earth's surface during the last Ice Age. Cooling of the North American climate, one of these effects, is further evidence of significant climate change in Earth's recent history.

Satellite imaging is being used at Scripps to help monitor micro-scale fluctuations in Earth's surface, thereby supplying further information on earthquakes and their effects.

Scripps geochemists are leading multi-institutional expeditions to volcanic ranges in Central America, Indonesia, and elsewhere. These ranges provide new insights into the cycling of elements between Earth's underlying mantle and the surface, including the crust, oceans, and atmosphere.

Scripps is participating in an international network to monitor infrasound, subsonic signals from human-generated and natural sources. Scripps operates a microbarometer listening array in the desert east of San Diego and is constructing another array near Spokane, Washington. Two more arrays are planned for locations off the west coast of Africa.