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Freshwater acidification monitoring in Great Lakes National Marine Sanctuaries

  • Principal Investigator(s): Reagan Errera
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2024, 2025, 2026

Freshwater acidification monitoring and environmental stewardship in Great Lakes

Why we care
The Great Lakes represent a rapidly changing ecosystem, due to land use changes, environmental change, introduction of invasive species, and increases in the prevalence and duration of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia. Long-term trends in acidification may have immense ecological implications and influence habitat types and availability. The impact of acidification on the Great Lakes ecosystem is relatively unknown and basic baseline data to assess changes to the inorganic carbonate system is not available. There is an urgent need to establish baseline data and direct research related to the availability of inorganic carbon and acidification within Great Lakes waters. This project helps build that baseline monitoring of the parameters and resolution needed to understand the carbonate system and track change over time.

What we are doing
In order to support a healthy, productive, and resilient Great Lakes ecosystem, we need an established monitoring network focused on freshwater acidification in the U.S. Great Lakes. This project will establish and maintain the first long-term monitoring program to collect important parameters for measuring acidification and understanding the carbonate system (pH, pCO2, and total alkalinity). Instruments will be installed and maintained within the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS) in Lake Huron. The project also aims to foster public access to information and develop an education and outreach program to communicate the relevance and impacts of acidification, climate monitoring and associated science. 

Benefits of our work
Established sites within the TBNMS management area in Lake Huron will continue to record information relevant to tracking freshwater acidification and climate impacts. Building an observing network will be critical to understanding the drivers of acidification and predicting future trends in pH and connecting that to impacts to ecosystems and people in the region.

Fun Fact
The Great Lakes are the largest continuous surface freshwater system in the world, representing approximately 20% of Earth’s surface freshwater.

Investigators
Reagan Errera, NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL)
Stephanie Gandulla, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS)
Russ Green, Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary (WSCNMS)
Steve Constant, NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL)

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

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