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Researchers at Elkhorn Slough collect samples that will help uncover the salt marsh’s ability to serve as a carbon dioxide vacuum and vault.

Stuck in the muck: Scientists study carbon trapped by Elkhorn Slough

Salt marshes, which have historically been drained and turned into farms or land ripe for real estate development, are emerging as a powerful tool in the fight against global warming.

map showing damage estimates

Coral-reef restoration can be cost-effective for saving lives, money

A new study co-led by the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience at UC Santa Cruz shows coral reef restoration in Florida and Puerto Rico could save thousands of lives and prevent hundreds of millions of dollars in damage and economic interruption each year.

diver and schools of fish at coral reef

The business case for saving coral reefs

Coral reefs protect tens of thousands of people and billions’ worth of economic assets every year. If coral reefs are effectively high-performance seawalls, they should be maintained and strengthened with federal disaster funds — purses tens to hundreds of times larger than conservation budgets.

visualization graphic of flooding model

Scientists collaborate on immersive technology to address climate challenges

The UC Santa Cruz Center for Coastal Climate Resilience and a team of scientists and science communicators at UC San Diego have developed an initiative focused on immersive technology that uses advanced hardware and software to simulate environments and experiences.

Understanding Coastal Risk & Visualizing Resilience Solutions

The Center for Coastal Climate Resilience at UC Santa Cruz is working to visualize the flood protection benefits of natural infrastructure like coral reefs and mangroves. Its researchers combine rigorous hydrodynamic and socio-economic modeling with visualization to analyze and communicate wave-driven coastal flood models to scientists, decision makers, and the public.

portrait of Sikina Jinnah

Silicon Valley Renegades Pollute the Sky to Save the Planet

Sikina Jinnah, a professor studying solar geoengineering at the University of California, Santa Cruz, shares her concerns about entrepreneurs who are independently releasing sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere to try to tackle global warming.

Klamath river

With Dams Removed, Salmon Will Have the Run of a Western River

CCCR is supporting UCSC Fisheries Collaborative Program, NOAA Fisheries, and the Yurok Tribal Fisheries Department’s work to restore the Klamath River’s resilience to declining salmon populations and support the people who are connected to the river.

wildfire

Fire-Weary Lake County Again Faces a Tough Recovery and Questions Over Rebuilding

At UC Santa Cruz professor Miriam Greenberg, who studies the effects of climate catastrophes like fires on housing in the wildland-urban interface, cautioned the city and its residents to think about whether rebuilding in Clearlake is a good idea.

Last modified: Mar 05, 2025