Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Partner: University of Connecticut

Terrestrial liming at golf courses serve as testbeds for this method for carbon capture and mitigating acidification. Credit: Your Golf Travel (Creative Commons)
An opportunity to study Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement, carbon dioxide removal, and ecosystem impacts through coastal liming
  • PI(s): Jaime Palter
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
  • Grant Award # NA23OAR0170505
The work aims to address the unknowns associated with the practice of coastal liming as a carbon dioxide removal pathway...
Project Summary >
Methane seeps from the benthos in the Atlantic. Credit: NOAA Ocean Exploration
Developing a coupled benthic-pelagic biogeochemical model to evaluate the effectiveness of mCDR interventions
  • PI(s): Cristina Schultz
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
  • Grant Award # NA23OAR0170511
This project will develop a modeling framework capable of resolving a range of marine carbon dioxide removal concerns related to durability, additionality, verifiability, and other aspects of sediment processes in..
Project Summary >
Juvenile Atlantic sea scallops in an experimental tank. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
Assessing vulnerability of the Atlantic Sea Scallop social-ecological system in the northeast waters of the US
  • PI(s): Samantha Siedlecki, Lisa Colburn and Shannon Meseck
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
The project’s main objective is to determine the social and ecological vulnerability of the sea scallop fishery to ocean acidification and temperature changes...
Project Summary >
NOAA ship in background during the West Coast Ocean Acidification research cruise with a mooring measuring ocean chemistry in the foreground. Credit: NOAA
Predicting the risk of ocean acidification to fisheries in the Pacific Northwest
  • PI(s): Samantha Siedlecki
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2020, 2021, 2022
This sustained investment continues to develop and produce seasonal forecasts of ocean acidification variability on the West Coast to inform fisheries management...
Project Summary >
Assessment of the Observing Network to Identify Processes Relevant to the Predictability of the Coastal Ocean of the Northeast on Centennial Time Scales
  • PI(s): Samantha Siedlecki
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2019
  • Grant Award # NA19OAR0170351
Over the past 15 years, waters in the Gulf of Maine have taken up
CO2at a rate significantly slower than that observed in the open oceans due to a..
Project Summary >

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

Closeup of oysters cupped in someone's hands

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