To celebrate World Oceans Day, the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program highlights its collaborative efforts to empower global communities with monitoring tools and international mentorships. Learn how these initiatives connect scientists across the world to advance ocean acidification research and protect communities that depend on the ocean.
Our ocean: blue, green, water, life Read More »
Follow Grace Saba’s journey from a childhood in rural Kansas to leading advanced ocean acidification research and developing pH-sensing underwater gliders.
Dr. Libby Jewett reflects on the first decade of the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program, detailing its growth from a legislative mandate into a collaborative network that integrates biological research, advanced monitoring, and social science.
University research teams in Oregon and California are investigating how shellfish-reliant communities along the West Coast perceive and adapt to the threat of ocean acidification. Learn more about this study that integrates social science interviews, biophysical data synthesis, and policy analysis to identify vulnerabilities and improve future resilience for the industry.
OAP-funded projects in the Northeast, Chesapeake Bay, and West Coast are determining how ocean acidification impacts dependent communities and economies. Learn how these projects are helping the Atlantic sea scallop fisheries, oyster growers and coastal residents address challenges to our changing ocean.
Assessing Vulnerability to a Changing Ocean Read More »
Researchers from NOAA and academic institutions are partnering with the Northeast scallop industry to combine biological experiments with computer modeling to predict the impacts of ocean acidification on this $500 million fishery.
Scientists, scallop industry team up to study ocean acidification impacts Read More »
Developed by a student in landlocked Montana, the pHyter is an affordable, handheld sensor designed to make accurate ocean acidification monitoring accessible to students, citizen scientists, and researchers. Learn how this tool became a part of educational curricula that empower students to collect real-time data on ocean health.
Land locked to open ocean Read More »
Researchers led by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science are collaborating with Chesapeake Bay oyster growers to address the biological and economic threats posed by ocean acidification. By integrating high-resolution 3D modeling with social science research, the project aims to provide commercial growers with forecasting tools to better protect the region’s multi-million dollar shellfish industry.
Webstory unveiling NOAA’s 10-year research roadmap to help the nation’s scientists, resource managers, and coastal communities address acidification of the open ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes.
Understanding seasonal changes in ocean acidification in Alaskan waters and the potential impacts to the multi-billion-dollar fishery sector is a main priority. Through work funded by NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program, the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory developed a model capable of depicting past ocean chemistry conditions for the Bering Sea and is now testing the ability of this model to forecast future conditions. This model is being used to develop an ocean acidification indicator provided to fisheries managers in the annual NOAA Eastern Bering Sea Ecosystem Status Report.
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:
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
Using these models and predictions as tools to facilitate management strategies that will protect marine resources and communities from future changes
Developing innovative tools to help monitor ocean acidification and mitigate changing ocean chemistry locally
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.
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
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
Reduce your use of fertilizers, Improve sewage treatment and run off, and Protect and restore coastal habitats
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:
