What's Current in
Climate Change
Featuring research and hands-on efforts around climate change
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![Diatoms under the microscope.](/sites/default/files/styles/large_2340x1212/public/2023-07/Diatoms-istock.jpg?itok=xTPFrrmk)
Photo Credit
Elif Bayraktar via iStock
Diatoms are one of the largest groups of phytoplankton, which serve as a foundation of the ocean’s food web.
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![an orange garibaldi with a scientific diver in the background](/sites/default/files/styles/large_2340x1212/public/2023-07/garibaldi-and-diver-uc-santa-barbara.jpg?itok=QuFsTbh6)
Photo Credit
Chris Honeyman
A research diver conducts periodic monitoring of a kelp forest marine protected area
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![A thinning forest on a hill.](/sites/default/files/styles/large_2340x1212/public/2023-07/Tree-mortality-colorado-Lee-Anderegg1.jpg?itok=t0YQ5VY4)
Photo Credit
Lee Anderegg
A forest community changes as trembling aspen succumb to drought in southwestern Colorado.
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![oil and natural gas infrastructure in the Permian Basin](/sites/default/files/styles/large_2340x1212/public/2023-06/oil-gas-permian-basin-uc-santa-barbara.jpg?itok=o_oh51YE)
Oil and gas extraction infrastructure in the Permian Basin
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![A fishing boat deploys its nets accompanied by a flock of gulls.](/sites/default/files/styles/large_2340x1212/public/2023-06/fishing-boat-iStock.jpg?itok=HCXs-UPY)
Photo Credit
Split Second Stock
Fishermen and regulatory agencies will need to adapt when marine heatwaves impact the ranges and population levels of targeted species.
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![A whitebark pine growing on the rock overlooking Big Pine Creek in the Eastern Sierra Nevada.](/sites/default/files/styles/large_2340x1212/public/2023-05/overlook-valley-dudney-uc-santa-barbara.jpg?itok=SUALsGgY)
Photo Credit
Joan Dudney
Whitebark pines growing in cold, high elevation regions grew more during droughts, which lengthened their growing season.
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![A snorkeler with camera and note pad investigates a nearly bleached coral.](/sites/default/files/styles/large_2340x1212/public/2023-03/Burkepile-bleached-coral-1-uc-santa-barbara.jpg?itok=sw6eMD7_)
Photo Credit
Jeff Liang
Professor Deron Burkepile observes coral in the process of bleaching in the reefs around Moorea.