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Monitoring & Modeling

Advancing best practices for assessing trends of ocean acidification time series

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Assessing the status of ocean acidification across ocean and coastal waters requires standardized procedures at all levels of data collection, dissemination, and analysis. Standardized procedures for assuring quality and accessibility of ocean carbonate chemistry data are largely established, but a common set of best practices for ocean acidification trend analysis is needed to enable global […]

Advancing best practices for assessing trends of ocean acidification time series Read More »

Quantifying Net Community Production and Calcification at Station ALOHA Near Hawai’i: Insights and Limitations From a Dual Tracer Carbon Budget Approach

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A budget approach is used to disentangle drivers of the seasonal mixed layer carbon cycle at Station ALOHA (A Long-term Oligotrophic Habitat Assessment) in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG). The budget utilizes data from the WHOTS (Woods Hole—Hawaii Ocean Time-series Site) mooring, and the ship-based Hawai’i Ocean Time-series (HOT) in the NPSG, a region

Quantifying Net Community Production and Calcification at Station ALOHA Near Hawai’i: Insights and Limitations From a Dual Tracer Carbon Budget Approach Read More »

Assessing drivers of estuarine pH: A comparative analysis of the continental U.S.A.’s two largest estuaries

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In estuaries, local processes such as changing material loads from the watershed and complex circulation create dynamic environments with respect to ecosystem metabolism and carbonate chemistry that can strongly modulate impacts of global atmospheric CO2 increases on estuarine pH. Long-term (> 20 yr) surface water pH records from the USA’s two largest estuaries, Chesapeake Bay (CB) and

Assessing drivers of estuarine pH: A comparative analysis of the continental U.S.A.’s two largest estuaries Read More »

Simultaneous determination of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentration and stable isotope (δ<sup>13</sup>C-DIC) by Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy: Application to study carbonate dynamics in the Chesapeake Bay

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Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and its stable isotope (δ13C-DIC) are powerful tools for exploring aquatic biogeochemistry and the carbon cycle. Traditionally, they are determined separately with a DIC analyzer and an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. We present an approach that uses a whole-water CO2 extraction device coupled to a Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) CO2 and isotopic analyzer

Simultaneous determination of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentration and stable isotope (δ<sup>13</sup>C-DIC) by Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy: Application to study carbonate dynamics in the Chesapeake Bay Read More »

Source partitioning of oxygen-consuming organic matter in the hypoxic zone of the Chesapeake Bay

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We surveyed the carbonate system along the main channel of the Chesapeake Bay in June 2016 to elucidate carbonate dynamics and the associated sources of oxygen-consuming organic matter. Using a two endmember mixing calculation, chemical proxies, and stoichiometry, we demonstrated that in early summer, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) dynamics were controlled by aerobic respiration in

Source partitioning of oxygen-consuming organic matter in the hypoxic zone of the Chesapeake Bay Read More »

Chesapeake Bay acidification buffered by spatially decoupled carbonate mineral cycling

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Uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere has acidified the ocean and threatened the health of marine organisms and their ecosystems. In coastal waters, acidification is often enhanced by CO2 and acids produced under high rates of biological respiration. However, less is known about buffering processes that counter coastal acidification in eutrophic and seasonally

Chesapeake Bay acidification buffered by spatially decoupled carbonate mineral cycling Read More »

Implications of salinity normalization of seawater total alkalinity in coral reef metabolism studies

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Salinity normalization of total alkalinity (TA) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) data is commonly used to account for conservative mixing processes when inferring net metabolic modification of seawater by coral reefs. Salinity (S), TA, and DIC can be accurately and precisely measured, but salinity normalization of TA (nTA) and DIC (nDIC) can generate considerable and

Implications of salinity normalization of seawater total alkalinity in coral reef metabolism studies Read More »

Discerning effects of warming, sea level rise and nutrient management on long-term hypoxia trends in Chesapeake Bay

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Analyses of dissolved oxygen concentration in Chesapeake Bay over the past three decades suggested seasonally-dependent changes in hypoxic volume and an earlier end of hypoxic conditions. While these studies hypothesized and evaluated multiple potential driving mechanisms, quantitative evidence for the relative effects of various drivers has yet to be presented. In this study, a coupled

Discerning effects of warming, sea level rise and nutrient management on long-term hypoxia trends in Chesapeake Bay Read More »

Effects of Wind-Driven Lateral Upwelling on Estuarine Carbonate Chemistry

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Estuaries are productive ecosystems that support extensive vertebrate and invertebrate communities, but some have suffered from an accelerated pace of acidification in their bottom waters. A major challenge in the study of estuarine acidification is strong temporal and spatial variability of carbonate chemistry resulting from a wide array of physical forces such as winds, tides

Effects of Wind-Driven Lateral Upwelling on Estuarine Carbonate Chemistry Read More »

Seasonal and spatial variability in surface <em>p</em>CO<sub>2</sub> and air–water CO<sub>2</sub> flux in the Chesapeake Bay

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Interactions between riverine inputs, internal cycling, and oceanic exchange result in dynamic variations in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) in large estuaries. Here, we report the first bay-wide, annual-scale observations of surface pCO2 and air–water CO2 flux along the main stem of the Chesapeake Bay, revealing large annual variations in pCO2 (43–3408 μatm) and a spatial-dependence of pCO2 on internal and

Seasonal and spatial variability in surface <em>p</em>CO<sub>2</sub> and air–water CO<sub>2</sub> flux in the Chesapeake Bay Read More »

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ADAPTING TO OCEAN ACIDIFICATION

The NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (OAP) works to prepare society to adapt to the consequences of ocean acidification and conserve marine ecosystems as acidification occurs. Learn more about the human connections and adaptation strategies from these efforts.

Adaptation approaches fostered by the OAP include:

FORECASTING

Using models and research to understand the sensitivity of organisms and ecosystems to ocean acidification to make predictions about the future, allowing communities and industries to prepare

MANAGEMENT

Using these models and predictions as tools to facilitate management strategies that will protect marine resources and communities from future changes

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

Developing innovative tools to help monitor ocean acidification and mitigate changing ocean chemistry locally

REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT

50 more ways to reduce your carbon footprint >

On the Road

Drive fuel-efficient vehicles or choose public transportation. Choose your bike or walk! Don't sit idle for more than 30 seconds. Keep your tires properly inflated.

With your Food Choices

Eat local- this helps cut down on production and transport! Reduce your meat and dairy. Compost to avoid food waste ending up in the landfill

With your Food Choices

Make energy-efficient choices for your appliances and lighting. Heat and cool efficiently! Change your air filters and program your thermostat, seal and insulate your home, and support clean energy sources

By Reducing Coastal Acidification

Reduce your use of fertilizers, Improve sewage treatment and run off, and Protect and restore coastal habitats

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TAKE ACTION WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

You've taken the first step to learn more about ocean acidification - why not spread this knowledge to your community?

Every community has their unique culture, economy and ecology and what’s at stake from ocean acidification may be different depending on where you live.  As a community member, you can take a larger role in educating the public about ocean acidification. Creating awareness is the first step to taking action.  As communities gain traction, neighboring regions that share marine resources can build larger coalitions to address ocean acidification.  Here are some ideas to get started:

  1. Work with informal educators, such as aquarium outreach programs and local non-profits, to teach the public about ocean acidification. Visit our Education & Outreach page to find the newest tools!
  2. Participate in habitat restoration efforts to restore habitats that help mitigate the effects of coastal acidification
  3. Facilitate conversations with local businesses that might be affected by ocean acidification, building a plan for the future.
  4. Partner with local community efforts to mitigate the driver behind ocean acidification  – excess CO2 – such as community supported agriculture, bike & car shares and other public transportation options.
  5. Contact your regional Coastal Acidification Network (CAN) to learn how OA is affecting your region and more ideas about how you can get involved in your community
       More for Taking Community Action