Research at IGPP

We utilize active and passive ocean acoustics as a remote sensing tool to understand the ocean dynamics. We have a strong experimental component that naturally complements our work in model inversion, estimation, and data assimilation. Current research activities include experiments in the Gulf Stream and in the Arctic to investigate non-linear dynamics, the ice-ocean interface, ocean heat content, and ocean soundscapes.

PEOPLE:  Dzieciuch, Morzfeld, Vazquez, Worcester

KEYWORDS:  Ocean Acoustic Tomography, Acoustical Oceanography, Underwater Acoustics, T-Wave Propagation

RELATED RESEARCH AREAS / GROUPS / CENTERS: Geodesy, Marine EM lab [https://marineemlab.ucsd.edu/index.html], Marine Geophysics,Seismology,Theoretical and Computational Geophysics

We study the geometry, structural properties, and gravity field of the Earth using a wide range of space, airborne and terrestrial observational techniques for land, marine and polar geodetic studies. Using both observations and modeling, we relate crustal deformation and interactions of the solid Earth with the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and cryosphere.

PEOPLE:  Agnew, Bock, Borsa, Greenbaum, Haase, Fialko, Fricker, Sandwell

KEYWORDS: InSAR, GNSS, GPS, satellite altimetry, Seafloor geodesy, Crustal deformation, Hydrogeodesy and atmospheric/climate interactions, Marine gravity

RELATED RESEARCH AREAS / GROUPS / CENTERS: California Spatial Reference Center (CSRC) [http://sopac-csrc.ucsd.edu/index.php/csrc/], Scripps Orbit and Permanent Array Center (SOPAC) [http://sopac-csrc.ucsd.edu/index.php/sopac/], Scripps Polar Center [https://polar.ucsd.edu/], Seismology

Earth’s ice sheets (Greenland and Antarctica) are losing mass to the ocean, increasing sea level. Ice losses are largely driven by processes acting at the margins that are poorly observed and understood, limiting our ability to reliably project their evolution. We utilize a combination of satellite, airborne, and surface (ice/ocean) platforms and approaches, and numerical modeling, to identify, understand these processes and project how they will evolve in a warming climate.

PEOPLE:  Borsa, Dzieciuch, Fan, Fricker, Greenbaum

KEYWORDS:  glaciology, ice sheets and ice shelves, ice-ocean interactions, sea level rise, subglacial geology and hydrology, satellite remote sensing (radar and laser altimetry, SAR, optical), sub-ice ocean acoustic tomography and navigation, cryoseismology, aerogeophysics, airborne oceanography, autonomous airborne and marine platform development

RELATED RESEARCH AREAS / GROUPS / CENTERS: Scripps Polar Center [https://polar.ucsd.edu/], Scripps Glaciology Group, Polar Geophysics Lab

We utilize active and passive seismology, EM resistivity and seafloor geodesy to study the structure and dynamics of the seafloor. Current research activities investigate oceanic crustal structure, offshore ground-water flow near San Diego, submarine landslides, hydrothermal circulation at mid-ocean ridges, and the plate-interface slip along at the Cascadia subduction zone.

PEOPLE:  S. Constable, Dzieciuch, Fan, Gee, Greenbaum, Laske, Parnell-Turner, Sandwell, Wright, Zumberge, 

KEYWORDS:  Mid-ocean ridges, Oceanic transform faults, Submarine geohazards, Mantle dynamics , Marine geophysical imaging, Oceanic crust 

RELATED RESEARCH AREAS / GROUPS / CENTERS: Geodesy , Marine EM lab [https://marineemlab.ucsd.edu/index.html], Marine Geophysics Group (https://rosspt.weebly.com/), Planetary Interiors and Geodynamics, Scientific Ocean Drilling, Seismology

We aim to understand the past and present day interior structure and properties of the Earth and planets from core to crust. Exploring planetary interiors involves using theoretical, observational, and experimental approaches. Current research areas involve: imaging the upper mantle seismic discontinuities, imaging mantle plumes, imaging subduction zones, and determining geomagnetic variations over time.

PEOPLE:  C. Constable, S. Constable, Gee, Laske, May, Morzfeld, Parnell-Turner, Sandwell, Shearer, Stegman

KEYWORDS:  Geodynamics, Geomagnetism, Mantle discontinuities, Mantle plumes, Subduction zones, Theoretical, observational, and experimental geophysics

RELATED RESEARCH AREAS / GROUPS / CENTERS:  Seismology, Theoretical and Computational Geophysics

We employ global and regional seismology to study both earthquakes and Earth structure. We use seismic waves to resolve details of the crust, mantle, and core using a variety of methods. We study earthquake source kinematic and dynamic rupture processes, earthquake interaction and triggering, and the physics of earthquakes and faulting at many scales. We develop new methodologies for seismic imaging, seismic processing, seismic hazard evaluation, and for numerically modeling of seismic processes.

PEOPLE:  Agnew, Berger, Fan, Fialko, Gabriel, Kilb, Laske, Orcutt, Parnell-Turner, Shearer, Vernon

KEYWORDS:  Waveform modeling, Seismic processing methods, Analysis methods for seismic surface waves and free oscillations, Earthquake cycle

RELATED RESEARCH AREAS / GROUPS / CENTERS:  Geodesy, Planetary Interiors, Geomagnetism, and Geodynamics, Theoretical and Computational Geophysics

We use phenomenological studies that test and expand theories. Our research addresses the following questions: (1) Is the Soft Earth complicated, wherein complete knowledge and complicated models are needed, or is it complex and amenable to novel theoretical insights? (2) What are the limits of predictability for granular flow behaviors? (3) Can identifying state variables that control solid-like to liquid-like state transitions and associated critical states help us with the metastability of granular materials? (4) How can earth materials inspire new areas of physics? (5) Can we help with forecasting natural hazards? 

PEOPLE:  Morzfeld, Wright

KEYWORDS:  Granular flow, state variables

RELATED RESEARCH AREAS / GROUPS / CENTERS:  Theoretical and Computational Geophysics

Theory and computation forms an integral part of understanding many processes within Earth and the planets. Our faculty develop and utilize a wide array of computational methodologies to understand the Earth’s interior, electromagnetic field and gravity. We have a strong focus on the development of new mathematics, algorithms and software to enable efficient and accurate forward modeling, inverse solutions and data assimilation of processes relevant to Solid Earth geophysics.

PEOPLE:  Agnew, C. Constable, S. Constable, Fialko, Gabriel, Gerstoft, May, Morzfeld, Stegman

KEYWORDS:  Machine learning, Scientific computing, High performance computing, Model order reduction, Forward model, Inverse theory, Data assimilation 

RELATED RESEARCH AREAS / GROUPS / CENTERS:  Chaos, Computation, Analysis and Optimization (CaCAO) [https://cacao.ucsd.edu/], Marine EM lab  [https://marineemlab.ucsd.edu/index.html], Planetary Interiors, Geomagnetism, and Geodynamics, Scripps Polar Center [https://polar.ucsd.edu/], Seismology

The California Spatial Reference Center (CSRC) is responsible for “Establishing and maintaining an accurate state-of-the-art network of GPS control stations for a reliable spatial reference system in California.”

California Spatial Reference Center

Chaos, Computation, Analysis and Optimization (CaCAO) is a student and postdoc driven group of applied mathematicians, Earth scientists, ocean acousticians and engineers. We share a common goal of developing computational tools for solving high-dimensional problems in Earth science. Our main focus is on fitting models to data. 

The High Performance Wireless Research and Education Network (HPWREN), a University of California San Diego partnership project led by the San Diego Supercomputer Center and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography's Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, supports Internet-data applications in the research, education, and public safety realms.

High Performance Wireless Research and Education Network 

The Marine EM laboratory at Scripps Institution of Oceanography pioneers new technologies for exploring the crust and mantle underneath the oceans using marine electromagnetism. Key research areas include marine controlled-source electromagnetic sounding (CSEM, also known as sea-bed logging, SBL and R3M) and the marine magnetotelluric method (MT or MMT). 

Marine EM Laboratory

Scripps Institution of Oceanography's Orbit and Permanent Array Center (SOPAC) has served a large community of users, starting in 1991, with a focus on the analysis and archiving of precise GPS data/metadata and data products.  Today, SOPAC also refers to our research group, using geodetic and seismic data for a wide range of projects in geodesy, geophysics, surveying and engineering.

SOPAC

The Scripps Polar Center brings together scientists from the three research sections of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego who investigate everything from ocean physics to the ecology of polar organisms. We aim to address the complex questions of today's polar regions and to train a new generation of scientists capable of interdisciplinary research.

Scripps Polar Center