Cover image by Nomad_Soul – “Deep blue abyss” Fish over coral reef with diver in the Pacific. Credit: NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (2022) Ocean acidification observing buoy in Fagatele Bay, American Samoa. Credit: NOAA Fisheries (2022) Walleye Pollock. Credit: NOAA Fisheries Surfers at Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Matt McIntosh, NOAA (2016) Gulf of America as seen from space. Credit: NASA
Turning the Tide
Ocean Acidification Day of Action - 8 January
Background image: wave of water
We can help our changing ocean
Ocean acidification is happening now. Our ocean’s chemistry is changing from pole to pole, with increased acidity and impacts to marine life and people who depend on healthy ecosystems. As the ocean absorbs a quarter of the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere like a sponge, ocean acidification continues to worsen.
Over the past 250 years, the ocean’s acidity has increased 26%. The ocean’s pH, a measure of how acidic or alkaline the seawater is, has dropped from a global average of pH 8.2 to pH 8.1. While this change appears small, it has big consequences for some marine life, food webs and economies. 8 January marks this change as the Ocean Acidification Day of Action.
Still, continued research and efforts work toward mitigating and adapting to ocean acidification.
Communities can turn the tide with continued efforts to understand ocean acidification, its impacts and ways to mitigate and adapt to ocean acidification.
Background Image: School of fish over a coral reef
Monitoring that matters
Ocean observing delivers critical data essential for informed decision-making across all our nation’s waters. NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program (OAP) and others collect information using buoys and moorings, research cruises, autonomous vehicles and other ships of opportunity. Since we can’t measure every bit of ocean all the time, we establish strategic observing locations and times. Modeling and forecasting help to fill in the gaps for ocean conditions now and in the future. Ocean acidification monitoring is critical for informing people, communities and economies that rely on the ocean.
Use the slider: Sea Surface pH comparison 1998 vs. 2023
Knowing when, where and how ocean chemistry changes is critical for understanding and predicting impacts on marine life and communities.
Background Image: OA Buoy deployed in Fagatele Bay, American Samoa
Biological impacts to ocean acidification
Ocean acidification directly and indirectly affects many ocean species. Several shellfish industries are directly impacted by ocean acidification. Using the best available research and tools, fisheries like the Atlantic sea scallop and oyster aquaculture has found new ways to manage and adapt.
We are learning more every day about the impacts of ocean acidification to species we care about.
Shellfish, corals and plankton that use calcium carbonate are especially vulnerable, since ocean acidification makes it harder for them to obtain these mineral building blocks needed for shells and skeletons.
Other species like some crab and fish show impacts to sensory systems, physiology and behavior.
There is good news! Some species show resilience to ocean acidification in regions that experience some of the most corrosive waters. Pollock, a major global fishery, shows greater resilience at different life stages than other more vulnerable species.
Background Image: Alaskan Walleye Pollock
Human Connections
Just as every watershed reaches the ocean, every person is also connected. Ocean acidification threatens food security, economies and culture, because of its potential impacts on marine ecosystem services.
The ocean is our planet's heart and impacts to the ocean affect us all where we live.
Different places and communities have their own challenges related to ocean acidification and ocean change. Understanding this vulnerability and where we can be resilient secures our ways of life and livelihoods.
Efforts to bridge scientific information with social science and cultural knowledge provide community and regional assessments of vulnerability and resilience. This work identifies community needs and priorities, gaps in our knowledge and builds frameworks for engaging people. Most importantly, we can identify solutions and inform decisions that help people mitigate and adapt to ocean acidification.
Connecting to the human impacts is essential for preparing for the consequences of our changing ocean.
Background Image: NOAA Fisheries Surfers at Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Taking action in your region
Taking practical, common steps now can protect our ocean and livelihoods now and into the future. Different places and communities have their own challenges related to ocean acidification and ocean change. NOAA OAP aims to provide information and tools to inform where we can be resilient adapt to support our ways of life and livelihoods. Efforts to bridge scientific information with social science and cultural knowledge provide community and regional assessments of vulnerability and resilience. This work identifies community needs and priorities, gaps in our knowledge and builds frameworks for engaging people. Most importantly, we can identify solutions and inform decisions that help people mitigate and adapt to ocean acidification.
Efforts to bring people together advance our capacity to prepare and adapt. Start by connecting to your regional coastal acidification network or building capacity with your community. Regional coastal acidification networks provide a vital link between scientists, educators, industry members, managers, decision makers and the public. They collectively address ocean and coastal acidification and the unique challenges of their areas.
Working together for collective action advances our efforts to prepare and adapt to ocean acidification impacts.
Click below for more about ocean acidification and the policy and actions that work toward solutions in your region.
OA Action in Alaska
OA Action on the Pacific Coast
OA Action in the Gulf of America
OA Action in the Northeast
OA Action in the Mid-Atlantic
OA Action in the Southeast
Thinking bigger? Connect to the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network, or GOA-ON, to meet and work with international partners.
Be part of the solution
Bring this to your classroom
Looking for a way to bring this to your classroom? OAP and its partners offer a wide range of engaging, hands-on educational and outreach materials. These comprehensive resources are available to educators and anyone else interested in learning more and teaching others about our changing ocean and potential solutions. They include curricula, webstories, infographics, videos and more!
Background Image: Gulf of America from Space
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