Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Research Oceanographer
Dr. Stokes and the IMT Laboratory are currently involved in laboratory work investigating the use of bioluminescent plankton for use as microscopic flow sensors, turbulent mixing under breaking waves, high-speed imaging of ocean surface processes, and the formation of sea spray aerosols with the UC San Diego CAICE program. Additionally, they are working on the development of new instrumentation for the study of the sea surface microlayer and atmospheric ice particles. They are also researching internal wave mixing of nutrients and bulk water movements across ecosystems in Florida, New Zealand, and Antarctica (with Jim Leichter at SIO) that utilize technology developed in the IMT Lab. High-resolution mapping of the sea floor and tomographic imaging of the pelagic water column are also part of their ongoing activities. Furthermore, other fieldwork has included working as part of an international team of scientists studying the nearshore physical and acoustic environment influencing the migration of Humpback whales off the coast of Australia.
Bio
Dr. Stokes is a Research Oceanographer in the Innovative Marine Technology (IMT) Laboratory at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO). He has extensive oceanographic field experience and has participated in various research expeditions dedicated to the study of pelagic and benthic environments around the world.
Dr. Stokes has a diverse background in biology and physics and works on projects as varied as tropical and polar ecology, air-sea gas transport, and marine aerosol formation. His field experiences include dozens of ship and land-based research projects around the world including 3 seasons in the Arctic and 7 in the Antarctic. He has worked on 5 different saturation diving missions including NOAA’s last scientific mission from Aquarius with Dr. Sylvia Earl.
An avid photographer, his photographs and text have appeared in publications around the world including National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Skin Diver, National Wildlife, Outside Magazine, and Natural History magazines among many others. He has worked on numerous documentary film projects as a scientific advisor and cameraman including BBC’s Blue Planet, the PBS Nature “Under Antarctic Ice” and most recently a series of 3D IMAX films on various marine topics around the world (Wild Ocean, The Last Reef, White Shark 3D and Return to the South Pacific).
Dr. Stokes received degrees in Biology and Geology from Queen’s University in Canada and received a Ph.D. in Oceanography from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. He completed 2 years of post-doctoral work at Stanford University before returning to the Innovative Marine Technology Laboratory at SIO.