Deep Dive: Chemical Oceanography with Lihini Aluwihare

Deep Dive aims to take a deep look at the latest research from scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. In this episode, Scripps Director Margaret Leinen speaks with Professor Lihini Aluwihare. Dr. Lihini Aluwihare is professor in the Geosciences Research Division at Scripps. She is a chemical oceanographer who studies the cycling of carbon and nitrogen in the ocean. Her work revolves around trying to read the messages encoded in molecules that maintain microbial life, facilitate ecosystem interactions, and contribute to long-term carbon and nutrient storage. Her tools also enable her to examine the human fingerprint through detection of anthropogenic organic compounds. Aluwihare also discussed tracing DDT in the San Pedro Basin. In 2015, she authored a study reporting high levels of DDT and other man-made chemicals in the blubber of bottlenose dolphins that died of natural causes. 00:23 Introducing Dr. Lihini Aluwihare 01:45 What is chemical oceanography? 12:00 What human fingerprints have you found in ocean chemistry? 19:20 Are there other human-generated organics that you see regularly? 26:10 What is the future for chemical oceanography research? 35:03 How did you get into fostering dogs? Featuring: Margaret Leinen, Vice Chancellor for Marine Sciences at UC San Diego and Director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography Lihini Aluwihare, Professor, Geosciences Research Division More information on research and education at Scripps Institution of Oceanography can be found here: https://scripps.ucsd.edu​ Subscribe to Scripps Oceanography on YouTube here: http://bit.ly/2PVlvmp​​ Subscribe to Scripps' explorations now newsletter here: http://bit.ly/2ZAGhLx​​ Follow Scripps Oceanography on social here: Facebook:   / scrippsocean​​   Twitter:   / scripps_ocean​​   Instagram:   / scripps_ocean​   #oceanography #chemistry #DeepDive