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NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program Research Region

Region: Open Ocean

Related Posts

See news related to this Research Region

The challenges of detecting and attributing ocean acidification impacts on marine ecosystems

A substantial body of research now exists demonstrating sensitivities of marine organisms to ocean acidification (OA) in laboratory settings. However, corresponding in situ observations of marine species or ecosystem changes that can be unequivocally attributed to anthropogenic OA are limited. Challenges remain in detecting and attributing OA effects in nature, in part because multiple environmental changes are

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November 7, 2024

Advancing best practices for assessing trends of ocean acidification time series

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

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June 28, 2024

Emerging Applications of Longstanding Autonomous Ocean Carbon Observations

For over two decades, NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) has been developing and deploying autonomous ocean carbon measurement technologies. PMEL currently maintains a network of air-sea CO2 and ocean acidification time-series measurements on 33 surface buoys, including the world’s longest record of air-sea CO2 measured from a buoy. These sites are located in every

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April 5, 2024
A vibrant coral reef is the background for the United States Ocean Acidification Action Plan, released December 10, 2023 at COP28
Featured

U. S. Ocean Acidification Action Plan Released

A Roadmap for the other National Ocean Acidification Action Plans The United States released the U.S. Ocean Acidification (OA) Action Plan during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) on December 10, 2023. This side event was co-hosted by NOAA Ocean Acidification Program, U.S. Department of State, and International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification (‘OA

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December 19, 2023

Related Projects

See our funded projects for this Focus Area

NOAA ship in background during the West Coast Ocean Acidification research cruise with a mooring measuring ocean chemistry in the foreground. Credit: NOAA
Optimizing the ocean acidification observing system in California
  • PI(s): Christopher Edwards, University of California, Santa Cruz
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2019, 2020, 2021
This project specifically investigates how the observing network is contributing to forecasting models using these complex tools to estimate ocean acidification conditions throughout the central California Current System...
Project Summary >
Map of SOCAT (v1.5) surface fCO2 values released on September 14, 2011. Credit: NOAA PMEL
Optimizing Global Observations of Carbon Dioxide in the Surface Ocean Using Machine Learning
  • PI(s): Galen A. McKinley, Columbia University
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2025, 2026, 2027
This work will assess how we can optimize observing resources from the global fleet to support improved, efficient, and cost-effective monitoring of the ocean carbon sink and minimize uncertainty. Researchers..
Project Summary >
A glider equipped with sensors measuring ocean conditions and ocean chemistry is deployed off a ship. Credit: NOAA PMEL
Delivering ocean acidification products and observing system assessment for the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem
  • PI(s): Christopher A. Edwards, University of California Santa Cruz
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2025, 2026, 2027
  • Grant Award # NA24OARX017G0021-T1-01
This project delivers products and an assessment of observing with the glider network for the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem...
Project Summary >
Lake Superior as seen from space in fall. Orange and red colors are from fall foliage. Credit: NOAA GLERL CoastWatch node
Measurement and Modeling of Processes Controlling acidification in the Great Lakes
  • PI(s): Noel Urban, Michigan Technological University
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2025, 2026, 2027
  • Grant Award # NA24OARX017G0022-T1-01
The project increases new monitoring and modeling capacity in the Great Lakes to assess the extent of acidification or potential future acidification...
Project Summary >
Calm sea with mountains on horizon and expansive sky in Ketchikan, Alaska. Credit: Phil Price, Flickr
Building Capacity for Alaskan Tribes
  • PI(s): Spencer Weinstein
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2023
This Alaska Sea Grant project increases ocean acidification monitoring capacity and assess vulnerability of Alaskan Tribes to ocean acidification...
Project Summary >
Spruce Island in the Kodiak region of Alaska. Bull kelp at water's surface with island in the background. Ocean acidification monitoring in this region helps prepare Kodiak Tribes for the impacts of ocean change. Credit: NOAA
Supporting Tribal Ocean Acidification Monitoring Programs
  • PI(s): Jake Cohen
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2023
This work will identify specific ocean acidification monitoring and support needs by Kodiak Tribes,. Additionally, it supports the career development of an Alaska Sea Grant fellow and increase capacity in..
Project Summary >

Related Publications

See publications produced by our funded projects for this Focus Area

Rubble persistence under ocean acidification threatened by accelerated bioerosion and lower‐density coral skeletons
  • Alice E. Webb, Ana M. Palacio-Castro, Kenzie Cooke, Katherine R. Eaton, Benjamin Chomitz, Nash Soderberg, Morgan Chakraborty, Zachary Zagon, Albert Boyd, Patrick M. Kiel, Allyson DeMerlis, Chris T. Perry, Ian C. Enochs
  • Global Change Biology
  • June 11, 2024
Citation: Webb, A. E., Palacio-Castro, A. M., Cooke, K., Eaton, K. R., Chomitz, B., Soderberg, N., Chakraborty, M., Zagon, Z., Boyd, A., Kiel, P. M., DeMerlis, A., Perry, C. T., & Enochs, I. C. (2024). Rubble persistence under ocean acidification threatened by accelerated bioerosion and lower-density coral skeletons. Global Change Biology, 30, e17371. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17371
Read Summary >
The challenges of detecting and attributing ocean acidification impacts on marine ecosystems
  • Steve S Doo, Andrea Kealoha, Andreas Andersson, Anne L Cohen, Tacey L Hicks, Zackary I Johnson, Matthew H Long, Paul McElhany, Nathaniel Mollica, Kathryn E F Shamberger, Nyssa J Silbiger, Yuichiro Takeshita, D Shallin Busch
  • ICES Journal of Marine Science
  • August 9, 2020
Citation: Steve S Doo, Andrea Kealoha, Andreas Andersson, Anne L Cohen, Tacey L Hicks, Zackary I Johnson, Matthew H Long, Paul McElhany, Nathaniel Mollica, Kathryn E F Shamberger, Nyssa J Silbiger, Yuichiro Takeshita, D Shallin Busch, The challenges of detecting and attributing ocean acidification impacts on marine ecosystems, ICES Journal of Marine Science, Volume 77, Issue 7-8, December 2020, Pages 2411–2422, https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsaa094
Read Summary >
Seasonal patterns of surface inorganic carbon system variables in the Gulf of Mexico inferred from a regional high-resolution ocean biogeochemical model
  • Fabian A. Gomez, Rik Wanninkhof, Leticia Barbero, Sang-Ki Lee, Frank J. Hernandez Jr.
  • Biogeosciences
  • March 31, 2020
Citation: Gomez, F. A., Wanninkhof, R., Barbero, L., Lee, S.-K., and Hernandez Jr., F. J.: Seasonal patterns of surface inorganic carbon system variables in the Gulf of Mexico inferred from a regional high-resolution ocean biogeochemical model, Biogeosciences, 17, 1685–1700, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-1685-2020, 2020.
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