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NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program Research Region

Region: Alaska & Arctic Acidification Research

Related Posts

See news related to this Research Region

Plankton bloom seen from space. Credit: NASA
Carbon Dioxide Removal

Multiscale observing system simulation experiments for iron fertilization in the Southern Ocean, Equatorial Pacific, and Northeast Pacific

Why we care Iron is a critical limiting nutrient for phytoplankton in the ocean. Iron fertilization adds this limiting nutrient to promote phytoplankton blooms as a way to take up carbon dioxide and store carbon when they sink. Unknowns on the effectiveness, measurement and monitoring need to be addressed. To address these unknowns, this project

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September 7, 2023
Pteropod shell
Carbon Dioxide Removal

Biotic calcification impacts on marine carbon dioxide removal additionality

Why we care There are several challenges that can limit the efficiency and effectiveness of marine carbon dioxide removal methods. One potential consequence of some methods is increased growth of organisms that build shells out of calcium carbonate, or calcification (shell building). Calcification releases carbon dioxide into seawater, which may reduce the efficiency of carbon

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September 7, 2023
Fishery-responsive management is an important component of implementing any marine carbon dioxide removal. Pictured are fishermen at sea with fish in a hold. Credit: iStock
Coastal Acidification

Engaging U.S. Commercial Fishing Community to Develop Recommendations for Fishery-Sensitive mCDR Governance, Collaborative Research and Monitoring, and Outreach to Fishing Communities

Why we care Marine carbon dioxide removal strategies will interact with fishery ecosystems, resources, and activities. It is important to engage with commercial fisheries early to develop an accurate understanding of governance concerns to build trust and fishery-sensitive governance.  What we will doThe project will leverage existing networks of fishermen from the Northeast, Alaska, and

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September 7, 2023
Hope Roberts of the Valdez Native Tribe preserves a water sample for analyzing carbonate chemistry. Credit: Chugach Regional Resources Commission
adaptation strategies

Ocean Acidification Sampling and Observations in South-central Alaska

Community Sampling and Ocean Acidification Observations in South-central Alaska Why we careSoutheast Alaska experiences ocean acidification at a faster rate than other regions due to its cold water temperatures and ocean current patterns. Indigenous communities rely on a healthy marine ecosystem and the culturally and economically important species that are impacted. This long-term community science

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April 28, 2023
biological reponse

Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Alaskan and Arctic fishes

Effects of OA on Alaskan and Arctic fishes: physiological sensitivity in a changing ecosystem
Why we care
There is significant concern about ocean acidification disrupting marine ecosystems, reducing productivity of important fishery resources, and impacting the communities that rely upon those resources. To predict the ecological and socioeconomic impacts of acidification, it is critical to

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September 1, 2022
biological reponse

Salmon and sablefish responses to elevated carbon dioxide

Resiliency and sensitivity of marine fish to elevated CO2: osmoregulatory neurosensory behavioral and metabolic responses in salmon and sablefish
Why we care
Elevated levels of marine carbon dioxide can disrupt how many marine fishes detect their environment, impairing their ability to respond appropriately to chemical, auditory, and visual cues. The mechanisms underlying differences in species

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September 1, 2022
biological reponse

Effects of ocean acidification and temperature on Alaskan crabs

Effects of predicted changes in ocean pCO2 and interactions with other stressors on the physiology and behavior of commercially important crabs in Alaska
Why we care 
Ocean acidification disrupts the internal acid-base balance of crabs and may hinder the creation and maintenance of shells. Previous studies on commercially important crab species in Alaska found that

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September 1, 2022
biological reponse

Modeling the impact of OA on Alaskan fisheries for decision makers

Forecast effects of ocean acidification on Alaska crab and groundfish fisheries
Why we care
Ocean acidification (OA) is a multi-disciplinary problem that requires a combination of methods from oceanography, fisheries science, and social science to assess socio-economic impacts. While OA impact models developed to date capture some sources of measurement uncertainty, more remains and limits

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September 1, 2022
The Coast Guard Cutter Munro from Kodiak, Alaska, sails toward the sunset during an unusually calm evening on the Bering Sea. Credit: USCG
biological reponse

Assessing Ocean Acidification in Alaska Fishery Zones

Sustained Observations of Ocean Acidification in Alaska Coastal Seas
Why we care
Coastal regions around Alaska experience some of the most rapid and extensive progressions of ocean acidification (OA) in the United States. Assessments indicate that Alaska coastal communities have a varying degree of vulnerability to OA ranging from moderate to severe. Economically vital fishing

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September 1, 2022

Related Projects

See our funded projects for this Focus Area

Carbon capture and ocean acidification mitigation potential by seaweed farms in tropical and subtropical coastal environments
  • PI(s): Andreas Andersson
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2023

Award amount: $1,451,575Duration: 3 yearsFunding agency: NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (OAP), National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) Why we care Growing seaweed in the ocean could be one way to alleviate some..

Project Summary >
Multiscale observing system simulation experiments for iron fertilization in the Southern Ocean, Equatorial Pacific, and Northeast Pacific
  • PI(s): Dennis McGillicuddy
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2023

Why we care Iron is a critical limiting nutrient for phytoplankton in the ocean. Iron fertilization adds this limiting nutrient to promote phytoplankton blooms as a way to take up..

Project Summary >
Electrolysis-driven weathering of basic minerals for long-term ocean buffering and CO2 reduction
  • PI(s): Burke Hales
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2023

Why we care Ocean alkalinity enhancement has the potential to capture carbon and mitigate ocean acidification. While ocean alkalinity enhancement is a promising approach for removing carbon from the atmosphere,..

Project Summary >
An opportunity to study Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement, carbon dioxide removal, and ecosystem impacts through coastal liming
  • PI(s): Jaime Palter
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2023

Why we care Terrestrial liming, or the addition of a basic (alkaline) material like calcium carbonate to crops and lawns is a common agricultural soil treatment. When applied on land..

Project Summary >
Tidal wetlands as a low pH environment for accelerated and scalable olivine dissolution
  • PI(s): Kevin Kroeger
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2023

Why we care Enhanced weathering is a carbon capture technology that increases ocean alkalinity by adding rocks with ultrabasic minerals, particularly in ecosystems like wetlands and mangroves. This project examines..

Project Summary >
Assessing the chemical and biological implications of alkalinity enhancement using carbonate salts from captured carbon dioxide to mitigate ocean acidification and enable mCDR
  • PI(s): Andrew Dickson
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2023

Why we care Energy, manufacturing and deployment costs are critical to the viability of any carbon dioxide removal approach. This research project focuses on a new strategy that promises low..

Project Summary >

Related Publications

See publications produced by our funded projects for this Focus Area

Comparison of discrete and underway CO2 measurements: Inferences on the temperature dependence of the fugacity of CO2 in seawater
  • Rik Wanninkhof, Denis Pierrot, Kevin Sullivan, Patrick Mears, Leticia Barbero
  • Marine Chemistry
  • December 20, 2022
Citation: Wanninkhof, R., D. Pierrot, K. Sullivan, P. Mears, L. Barbero (2022). “Comparison of discrete and underway CO2 measurements: Inferences on the temperature dependence of the fugacity of CO2 in seawater.” Marine Chemistry 247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2022.104178 Cooperative Institute of the University of Miami and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, cooperative agreement # NA20OAR4320472
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California shellfish farmers: Perceptions of changing ocean conditions and strategies for adaptive capacity
Citation: Ward, M. S., Ana; Levine, Arielle; Wolters, Erika Allen (2022). “California shellfish farmers: Perceptions of changing ocean conditions and strategies for adaptive capacity.” Ocean & Coastal Management 225(106155). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2022.106155 NOAA [GN# NA20OAR0170490]
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Adult snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio, display body‑wide exoskeletal resistance to the effects of long‑term ocean acidification
  • Tait Algayer, Ahmed Mahmoud, Sanjana Saksena, W. Christopher Long, Katherine M. Swiney, Robert J. Foy, Brittan V. Steffel, Kathryn E. Smith, Richard B. Aronson & Gary H. Dickinson
  • Marine Biology
  • April 20, 2023
  • Snow crab
Citation: Algayer, T. A. M., Sanjana Saksena, W. Christopher Long, Katherine M. Swiney, Robert J. Foy, Brittan V. Stefel, Kathryn E. Smith, Richard B. Aronson, Gary H. Dickinson (2023). “Adult snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio, display body‑wide exoskeletal resistance to the effects of long‑term ocean acidification.” Marine Biology 170(63). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-023-04209-0
Read Summary >
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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