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.

Wei-Jun Cai

Advancing best practices for assessing trends of ocean acidification time series

By

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 »

Partial pressure (or fugacity) of carbon dioxide, salinity and temperature collected from surface underway observations during R/V Rachel Carson and other commercial boat cruises in the Chesapeake Bay from 2016-05-04 to 2019-02-22 (NCEI Accession 0191507)

By

This dataset includes surface underway data collected during the R/V Rachel Carson and other commercial boat cruises in the Chesapeake Bay from 2016-05-04 to 2019-02-22. These data include partial pressure (or fugacity) of carbon dioxide in the water, sea surface salinity and sea surface temperature. The data are from the first bay-wide observational study of

Partial pressure (or fugacity) of carbon dioxide, salinity and temperature collected from surface underway observations during R/V Rachel Carson and other commercial boat cruises in the Chesapeake Bay from 2016-05-04 to 2019-02-22 (NCEI Accession 0191507) 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

By

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

By

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

By

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 »

Understanding Anthropogenic Impacts on pH and Aragonite Saturation State in Chesapeake Bay: Insights From a 30-Year Model Study

By

Ocean acidification (OA) is often defined as the gradual decline in pH and aragonite saturation state (ΩAr) for open ocean waters as a result of increasing atmospheric pCO2. Potential long-term trends in pH and ΩAr in estuarine environments are often obscured by a variety of other factors, including changes in watershed land use and associated riverine carbonate

Understanding Anthropogenic Impacts on pH and Aragonite Saturation State in Chesapeake Bay: Insights From a 30-Year Model Study 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

By

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 »

Ecosystem Metabolism and Carbon Balance in Chesapeake Bay: A 30-Year Analysis Using a Coupled Hydrodynamic-Biogeochemical Model

By

The carbon cycle in estuarine environments is difficult to quantify because of substantial spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the sources, exchanges, and fates of carbon. We overcame these challenges with a multidecade numerical modeling analysis of seasonal, interannual, and decadal variability in net ecosystem metabolism (NEM) and associated carbon fluxes in Chesapeake Bay. Interannual variability in NEM

Ecosystem Metabolism and Carbon Balance in Chesapeake Bay: A 30-Year Analysis Using a Coupled Hydrodynamic-Biogeochemical Model Read More »

Supply-controlled calcium carbonate dissolution decouples the seasonal dissolved oxygen and pH minima in Chesapeake Bay

By

Acidification can present a stress on organisms and habitats in estuaries in addition to hypoxia. Although oxygen and pH decreases are generally coupled due to aerobic respiration, pH dynamics may be more complex given the multiple modes of buffering in the carbonate system. We studied the seasonal cycle of dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, dissolved inorganic

Supply-controlled calcium carbonate dissolution decouples the seasonal dissolved oxygen and pH minima in Chesapeake Bay Read More »

Stressing over the Complexities of Multiple Stressors in Marine and Estuarine Systems

By

Aquatic ecosystems are increasingly threatened by multiple human-induced stressors associated with climate and anthropogenic changes, including warming, nutrient pollution, harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, and changes in CO2 and pH. These stressors may affect systems additively and synergistically but may also counteract each other. The resultant ecosystem changes occur rapidly, affecting both biotic and abiotic components and

Stressing over the Complexities of Multiple Stressors in Marine and Estuarine Systems Read More »

Scroll to Top

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

Previous slide
Next slide

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