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Ocean Acidification Data​

Projects funded by NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program collect a variety of data to understand changing ocean chemistry and its impacts on ecosystems and communities.

We provide access to ocean acidification data for researchers, policy-makers, and anyone interested in learning more about our changing ocean.

OAP, in coordination with the IWG-OA, commits to providing easily-accessible data relating to ocean and coastal acidification. We collect and showcase data from federally funded research, from Federal, State, or local governments, academic scientists, community scientists, industry organizations, Tribes, and from existing global or national data assets currently maintained by federal agencies. 

Access quality ocean acidification data
Learn more about ocean acidification by exploring trends and real-time data

Ocean Acidificaton Indicators

NOAA National Marine Ecosystem Status (NaMES)

The NaMES website captures the status and trends of ocean acidification in eight U.S. ecosystem regions and the nation overall. This tool provides the opportunity to explore the key indicators for our changing ocean.

NaMES provides ocean acidification indicators for pCO2, pH, and mineral aragonite (Ωar). These indicators help us understand the health status of an ecosystem.

ACCESS OA Indicators

Buoys and Moorings

OAP-Supported Buoys and Mooring Data

OAP supports 15 buoys in coastal, open-ocean, and coral reef waters that contribute to NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Observing Network. This monitoring program is maintained by and housed in NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory’s (PMEL) Carbon Program. Data collected from buoys record CO2 in the surface ocean and in air every 3 hours  to capture both seasonal and year-to-year variability. These measurements help us identify trends that occur from human-caused ocean acidification and allow us to predict and respond to changes in our ocean and climate.

The Great Lakes also has a new monitoring network in partnership with NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) with the first ocean acidification buoy located in Lake Huron. Data collected in the Great Lakes allow us to understand acidification from the absorption of atmospheric CO2 in important freshwater systems. Learn more about freshwater acidification.

The map below displays the location of OAP-sponsored buoys.
Click on the marker icon to access information on the specific buoy.

IOOS Regional Data Portals

Regional associations sponsored by the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) host data portals for OAP-supported moorings. Search for variables such as pH and pCO2  in near real time and in the past using these portals.

Access REgional OA DAta

Data Tools

OCADS Data Portal

NOAA OAP funds the Ocean Carbon and Acidification System (OCADS) Project, building a collaborative approach with shared responsibilities among scientists, data managers, and data partners.

OCADS ensures data collected from OAP-funded research and other sources is archived and accessible for ocean carbon and ocean acidification analyses, forecasting capabilities, and better assessments of marine resource vulnerability. OCADS is envisioned as the best data management service to support regional to global ocean carbon cycling and ocean acidification research. It builds upon a U.S. National ocean acidification data management and integration service required by the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act, enacted in 2009.

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Submit Data

Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON) Portal

NOAA OAP partners with international organizations to support the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON). GOA-ON works to improve our understanding of global ocean acidification conditions and ecosystem responses by making ocean acidification data easily discoverable.

The GOA-ON Data Explorer provides discovery and visualization to ocean acidification data and data synthesis products being collected around the world from a wide range of sources, including moorings, research cruises, and fixed time series stations. 

View Interactive Map

Coastal Ocean Data Analysis Product in North America (CODAP-NA, Version 2021)

This OAP-funded data product provides an internally consistent data product for discrete inorganic carbon, oxygen, and nutrients on the U.S. North American ocean margins, i.e., Coastal Ocean Data Analysis Product (CODAP-NA). It is created by compiling, quality controlling (QC), and synthesizing two decades of discrete measurements of inorganic carbon, oxygen, and nutrient chemistry data from North America’s U.S. coastal oceans.

View Product

UCSC Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Online Tool

This interactive online tool was developed by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz to show how ocean acidification and low oxygen levels (hypoxia) might change in California’s coastal waters in the future. This tool uses detailed climate projections to help us understand how changes in ocean acidification and hypoxia can affect marine life and ocean resources.

View Online Tool

Shellfish Thresholds and Aquaculture Resilience (STAR) Map: Chesapeake Bay

This map was developed by researchers at Oregon State University, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), and NOAA to visualize Chesapeake Bay oyster production and biophysical conditions hypothesized to be stressful to oysters. This geovisualization tool integrates biological, physical, and social data by mapping species responses of adult Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) onto a high-resolution biogeochemical model, shown alongside oyster aquaculture leases and restoration sites.

The purpose of this map is to investigate where, when, and how ocean acidification (OA) and multiple stressors may have impacted oyster aquaculture in Chesapeake Bay.

View Online Tool
Shellfish Thresholds and Aquaculture Resilience Map

Forecasting Models

J-SCOPE Seasonal Coastal Ocean Predictions

The JISAO Seasonal Coastal Ocean Prediction of the Ecosystem (J-SCOPE) forecasts support the California Current Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (IEAs), which are a framework for informing ecosystem-based management. J-SCOPE provides short term (six to nine month) testable forecasts of ocean conditions relevant to management decisions for fisheries, protected species and ecosystem health. Results will directly inform the IEA process, and will forecast indicators requested by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. NANOOS is the regional IOOS data portal that hosts J-SCOPE and associated data.

Chesapeake Bay Atlas for Physical and Biogeochemical Conditions

This archive provides an atlas of physical and biogeochemical conditions for the Chesapeake Bay based on numerical model results of 1985-2023. The atlas includes surface and bottom conditions on a fine longitude/latitude grid with a monthly frequency. The environmental variables are stored in a NetCDF file with abundant metadata that can be used in software such as QGIS, Python, R, Matlab or GNU Octave. A 50+ page documentation in PDF format provides additional information on the environmental variables, the numerical model used to generate the climatology, and an evaluation of the model skill over the period of the atlas. The documentation also includes ready-made visualizations for each environmental variable.

Chesapeake Bay Environmental Forecast System (CBEFS)

The Chesapeake Bay Environmental Forecast System (CBEFS) provides forecasts and “nowcasts” for several environmental variables in the Chesapeake Bay. OAP funded outputs include surface and bottom pH, surface and bottom alkalinity, and bottom and surface aragonite saturation state.

Get involved with ocean acidification

The NOAA Ocean Acidification Program exists to meet the ocean acidification research and monitoring needs of the U.S. See how you can get involved to serve your community and participate in cutting-edge research and education and outreach. 

Current Funding Opportunities
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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