Our Blue Backyard

by Oliver Cameron

  • At Every Depth

    April 2025 I recently had the chance to speak with Tessa Hill, UC Davis Oceanographer who wrote At Every Depth: Our Growing Knowledge of the Changing Oceans. Her book explores the ocean’s changes as a result of global warming. Drawing from science, Indigenous knowledge, and community perspectives, the book moves from tidepools to coral reefs…

  • Catching the Fog

    March 2025 An Interview with Professor Daniel Fernandez At California State University Monterey Bay, Professor Daniel Fernandez has been chasing fog for over two decades. Through his pioneering work with fog collectors and sensors, he not only studies this vital coastal phenomenon but also partners with communities to explore fog’s role as a sustainable water…

  • The Importance of Oysters

    February 2025 Oysters are like the architects of the ocean because they support a variety of marine ecosystems. By forming reefs, they create habitats for a huge number of species, from tiny invertebrates to large fish. They provide shelter and food that help maintain biodiversity. Oyster reefs also act as the foundation for many ecosystems…

  • An Antacid for the Ocean.

    January 2025 Bicarbonate is like the ocean’s natural buffer system, helping to keep acidity lower. Bicarbonate forms when carbon dioxide dissolves in salt water and reacts with water molecules. Bicarbonate helps to increase pH levels, preventing seawater from becoming too acidic which would threaten the health of marine life. For shell-building organisms like clams and…

  • The Ocean is Turning More Acidic.

    December 2024 Every time we burn fossil fuels or cut down forests on land, the ocean absorbs a huge amount of the carbon dioxide that’s released. Oceans are like giant sponges that absorb about 30% of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. That might seem like a good thing, because less carbon dioxide in the…

  • The Ocean Fuels a Huge Economy

    November 2024 The blue economy is a massive part of the global economy, worth over $3 trillion every year. It includes fishing, as well as industries such as shipping and deep sea mining. Ocean shipping alone helps move about 90% of the world’s trade. Researchers are also developing medicines from marine life, such as extracts…