The Smith Lab was recently awarded a grant by the California Ocean Protection Council to study the effects of sea level rise on intertidal communities – that is, the life that thrives in the zone that is exposed to the air at low tide and covered by water at high tide. This project will use technology similar to that used in the 100 Island Challenge, where thousands of images are stitched together to reconstruct the habitat in 3D. These models serve as a window into a habitat that is difficult to access and only exposed a few times each year – they can provide important new ways to study a long-studied ecosystem and can also be used as tools to communicate with and inspire nearby communities who interact with these unique places.

Check out this article written by The San Diego Union Tribune to learn more about the 4 scientists at Scripps Oceanography who were awarded collectively more than $1 million in grants this year!