UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography

Tracking the trace elements that feed our ocean

A person in an orange raincoat and blue hat works with thick cables on a ship deck, surrounded by equipment, with the ocean and cloudy sky in the background. — ***^{Clifton Buck, shown here on a cruise in the North Pacific, studies the cycling of trace elements in the ocean. (Photo by Alex Fox.)}***

When it comes to life in the Earth’s oceans, the smallest players often have the biggest roles. Trace elements, aptly named for their minute concentrations in seawater, can control the distribution of life in the surface ocean and help regulate the planet’s climate.

University of Georgia Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (SkIO) faculty member Clifton Buck’s research on trace elements has taken him and his lab members all over the world, from the coast of Hawaii to the frigid waters of the North and South Poles. They travel to some of the ocean’s most remote locations, collecting samples from the water and atmosphere to analyze trace element concentrations.

Skidaway Marine Science Day

Skidaway Marine Science Day

Now Recruiting: Director

Aerial view of a waterfront research facility with several buildings surrounded by trees, a dock with a blue and white boat, and a large grassy area in the background.