San Diego Scientists Create 'Miniature Ocean' For Climate Change Research

Scripps Institution of Oceanography has dedicated a giant ocean simulator that will help researchers better understand the effects of climate change on the world's oceans, reports the Times of San Diego.

In the Scripps' Hydraulics Laboratory sits a 120-foot-long, 36,000-gallon "miniature ocean" that will enable scientists to preview the oceans and atmospheres of the future, where climate will be altered more by human activities.

One example the Times lists is an experiment simulating how the ocean and atmosphere will interact when carbon dioxide levels increase.

The simulator can also create winds up to 63 mph and waves up to 3 feet at water temperatures raning from below freezing to nearly 90 degrees.

The Scripps Ocean Atmosphere Research Simulator (SOAR) took five years to design and build. The National Science Foundation awarded UC San Diego $2.8 million for its construction and the rest of $4 million total cost was supplied by the university.

“This is about the future,” said oceanographer Grant Deane, who is the principal investigator for the project. “This is about what choices we are going to make as a species on the planet over the next 10 years and 20 years and 30 years.”

SOARS will continue testing and commission throughout the winter. In January 2022, it will become available to researchers from Scripps and around the world.