[1] Ravelo grew up in a suburb of Los Angeles where she enjoyed hiking, skiing and other outdoor activities.
During her time at Stanford she became interested in oceanography, especially paleoceanography, which attracted her because it combines physics, math, chemistry, and biology.
[5] She also uses climate modeling to examine past changes in the ocean's hydrography,[7] nitrogen cycling,[8] and carbon dioxide concentrations.
[9] In the Pacific Ocean, Ravelo's research revealed a shift to El Niño-like conditions in the Pliocene, 4.5 to 3 million years ago.
[10][11] In 2021, Ravelo's research revealed a history of recurrent hypoxia in the Bering Sea, which results from productivity fueled by iron from continental shelves.