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Publications

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Building ocean acidification research and policy capacity in the wider Caribbean region: a case study for advancing regional resilience

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To meet scientific, policy, and community goals, there is a critical need to strengthen research capacity, increase monitoring, and inform adaptation and mitigation policies to enhance resilience against ocean acidification (OA) and associated multi-stressors in the Caribbean. In 2023, an OA Needs Based Assessment survey of ocean professionals was conducted, engaging 59 participants from across […]

Building ocean acidification research and policy capacity in the wider Caribbean region: a case study for advancing regional resilience Read More »

Open Ocean Versus Upwelling Regimes: Air-Sea CO2 Fluxes and pCO2 Inter-Annual Variability in the Southern California Current System

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Two moorings equipped with autonomous air-sea CO2 instrumentation located in the Southern California Current System were used to examine the seasonal and interannual variability of the surface partial pressure of carbon dioxide in seawater (pCO2,sw) and the air-sea CO2 flux between 2008 and 2022. These two moorings are in two distinct oceanographic regimes: offshore, centered in the

Open Ocean Versus Upwelling Regimes: Air-Sea CO2 Fluxes and pCO2 Inter-Annual Variability in the Southern California Current System Read More »

High-Frequency Correlations Between Winds and <em>p</em>CO<suB>2</sub> Change the California Coastal Upwelling System From a CO<sub>2</sub> Sink to a Source

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The exchange of carbon dioxide (CO2) between the ocean and atmosphere plays a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate and ocean chemistry. In this study, we examined how accurately this exchange is captured along the California coast, where seasonal wind‐driven upwelling brings CO2‐rich waters to the surface. We compared CO2 flux estimates using data collected

High-Frequency Correlations Between Winds and <em>p</em>CO<suB>2</sub> Change the California Coastal Upwelling System From a CO<sub>2</sub> Sink to a Source Read More »

Ocean Acidification: Another Planetary Boundary Crossed

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Ocean acidification has been identified in the Planetary Boundary Framework as a planetary process approaching a boundary that could lead to unacceptable environmental change. Using revised estimates of pre-industrial aragonite saturation state, state-of-the-art data-model products, including uncertainties and assessing impact on ecological indicators, we improve upon the ocean acidification planetary boundary assessment and demonstrate that

Ocean Acidification: Another Planetary Boundary Crossed Read More »

Regulation of surface carbon dioxide distributions and air–sea fluxes by temperature, biology, and mixing along the North American Atlantic Coastal Ocean Margin

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The North American Atlantic Coastal Ocean Margin (NAACOM) was recognized as an atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) sink, with large uncertainties in its northern areas due to complex dynamics in controlling the spatiotemporal variability of surface partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) and limited pCO2 observations. Here, we used a regional reconstructed product to investigate the spatial and seasonal variability

Regulation of surface carbon dioxide distributions and air–sea fluxes by temperature, biology, and mixing along the North American Atlantic Coastal Ocean Margin Read More »

Summertime net community production (NCP) via underway measurements of O<sub>2</sub>/Ar and its control on CO<sub>2</sub> flux in the northern Gulf of Mexico

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This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of metabolic status in the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM) using high-resolution O2/Ar-derived net community production (NCP) and air-sea CO2 flux data from the Gulf of Mexico Ecosystems and Carbon (GOMECC) expedition in summer 2021. We found that the entire nGOM is a weak CO2 source to the atmosphere and net

Summertime net community production (NCP) via underway measurements of O<sub>2</sub>/Ar and its control on CO<sub>2</sub> flux in the northern Gulf of Mexico Read More »

Wastewater alkalinity enhancement for carbon emission reduction and marine CO<sub>2</sub> removal

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Wastewater alkalinity enhancement is a promising approach for ocean alkalinity enhancement due to its potential to deliver strong bases with minimum secondary precipitation and its potential use of the global network of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). WWTPs are also significant sources of CO2 due to organic matter oxidation, and integrating alkalinity addition into treatment processes may

Wastewater alkalinity enhancement for carbon emission reduction and marine CO<sub>2</sub> removal Read More »

Global Carbon Budget 2024

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Accurate assessment of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and their redistribution among the atmosphere, ocean, and terrestrial biosphere in a changing climate is critical to better understand the global carbon cycle, support the development of climate policies, and project future climate change. Here we describe and synthesize datasets and methodologies to quantify the five major

Global Carbon Budget 2024 Read More »

Nutrient limitation dampens the response of a harmful algae to a marine heatwave in an upwelling system

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Harmful algal blooms caused by toxin-producing species of the diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia have been linked to anomalously warm ocean conditions in the Northern California Current System. This study compares summertime concentrations of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. and the toxin they produce, domoic acid, during a marine heatwave year (2019) and a climatologically neutral year (2021). An Imaging FlowCytobot was installed on

Nutrient limitation dampens the response of a harmful algae to a marine heatwave in an upwelling system Read More »

Biological Responses to Ocean Acidification Are Changing the Global Ocean Carbon Cycle

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Human activities are causing more carbon dioxide (CO2) to be absorbed by the oceans from the atmosphere, leading to decreasing ocean pH levels (ocean acidification). Acidification slows down biotic calcification, the process by which many marine organisms build their shells and skeletons. Lowered biotic calcification is hypothesized to reduce the carbon moving from the ocean’s

Biological Responses to Ocean Acidification Are Changing the Global Ocean Carbon Cycle Read More »

Forecasts for Alaska Fisheries

Crab pots and fishing nets in Alaska's Dutch Harbor
Image credit: Michael Theberge

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.

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