Chemical oceanographers seek to understand the nature of elements and compounds found in marine environments. The sources, sinks, and distributions of the ocean’s chemical constituents impact primary productivity and marine food webs, natural resources, and global climate. Researchers at Skidaway Institute are experts in the study of carbon, nutrients, trace elements, reactive oxygen species, and stable isotopes.  At Skidaway Institute, we investigate these chemical species and their respective cycles to further our understanding of how the ocean functions.  Members of the chemical oceanography group at Skidaway Institute include:

Brandes lab – The Skidaway Institute Scientific Stable Isotope Laboratory (SISSIL), marine carbon and microplastics research

Buck lab – Trace element geochemistry

Diaz lab – Biogeochemistry of phosphorus and reactive oxygen species

Savidge lab – Nutrient geochemistry

Stubbins lab – Geochemistry of dissolved organic matter

Some examples of Skidaway Institute research projects include:

Scientists track microplastic pollution on the Georgia coast

UGA Skidaway Institute scientists study the role of sunlight in marine CO2 production

UGA Skidaway Institute team studies nutrient levels in Georgia’s coastal estuaries

Climate change likely to increase carbon input into Arctic Ocean

Warming climate may release vast amounts of carbon from long-frozen Arctic soils