Ocean Acidification

SOOS is excited to share the launch of our new working group: The newly formed 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐛 𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (SO-OA Hub), a joint project with GOA-ON.

Everyone is invited to join the hybrid launch workshop on 19 Nov 14:40 AEST in Hobart at the AARC and online as part of OAWeek2024!

Register at bit.ly/SO-OA_Hub_Launch

Access more information about the hub and become a member here: https://www.soos.aq/activities/cwg/so-oa

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Event: NOAA EPP/MSI CSC Climate Change Seminar Series

Title:  THE EXPANDING REACH OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION

Presenter: Andrea Fassbender,  OAR Pacific  Marine Environment Lab (Hosted by CCME)

Date: November 14, 2024

Time: 12:00pm-1:00 PM

Register: Click here to register

 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details to join the event

 About the Seminar Series.

Join NOAA’s EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers for this lecture series featuring scientists from NOAA Fisheries and NOAA Research. These monthly seminars will be hosted by the lead institution, virtually or hybrid throughout the 2025-2025 academic year.  For more information, please visit, https://research.noaa.gov/noaa-csc-24-25/

The members of the SCOR project Changing Ocean Biological Systems (COBS) gathered at the IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories in Monaco from 7-8 October 2024 for their annual meeting. The Working group has developed Best Practices and tools to plan meaningful multifactorial experiments in the laboratory to assess the impact of multiple stressors on marine organisms. It carries out capacity building activities to train scientists on the use of these resources. Still, key concepts to carry out multi-stressor experiments have not made their way to the broader scientific community.

During the meeting, the group discussed plans and strategies to incorporate new emerging concepts related to the field of multiple stressors, including the need to combine local and global stressors, as well as the incorporation of time from short term variability to long term evolutionary aspects. A plan for improving the communication of multiple stressor science was developed, from scientific capacity development to high-level policy.

The Working Group brings together experts from Chile, China, Germany, India, New Zealand, Sweden, UK and the US. The meeting was co-supported by SCOR and the IAEA Ocean Acidification international Coordination Centre (OA-ICC).

From 18-29 November 2024, the OA-ICC will organize the second edition of its Winter School on ocean acidification in a multiple stressor context, which will include some of the concepts and resources developed by the SCOR COBS Working Group.

Date: 9 October 2024

Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm (EDT)

REGISTER

Workshop Agenda

Join us for a free virtual workshop on our Regional Resiliency & Vulnerability Assessment (RVA) projects on October 9, 2024 at 1pm ET. Our recently funded RVA projects will share results and facilitate connections between current project leaders and those interested in applying to our upcoming FY25 Regional Vulnerability Assessment funding call, which will likely release at the end of summer. RVA projects are interdisciplinary projects that supplement the physical, chemical, and biological science of ocean acidification with social science to assess regional vulnerability.

The goals of this workshop are:

• To facilitate networking and collaborations between OAP-funded PIs and new interested partners.
• To hear from past RVA projects leads on lessons learned and next steps;
• To address common challenges (such as engagement with Indigenous communities, Tribes, and/or other interested groups; working in data-poor regions; and building interdisciplinary teams); and,

Date: 7 October 2024

Time: 2:00 pm -3:00 pm

Location: MIT Center for Ocean Engineering – Room: 5-314

Speaker Name: Bianca Champenois

Affiliation: Sand-lab Doctoral Student

Abstract:

A significant portion of atmospheric CO2 emissions is absorbed by the ocean, resulting in acidified seawater and altered carbonate composition that is harmful to marine life and ecosystems. Despite detrimental effects, monitoring and forecasting indicators of ocean and coastal acidification (OCA) is difficult due to the scarcity of in-situ measurements and the high costs of computational modeling. We develop a parsimonious data-driven framework to model properties that drive OCA, and we test the framework in the Massachusetts Bay and Stellwagen Bank, a region with industries affected by OCA. First, we trained a neural network to predict in-depth fields for temperature and salinity (x,y,z) using surface quantities from satellites and in-situ measurements (x,y). The relationship between 2D surface and 3D properties is captured through the in-depth modes and coefficients obtained from principal component analysis applied to a high-resolution historical reanalysis data set. Next, we used Bayesian regression methods to estimate region-specific relationships for in-depth total alkalinity (TAlk), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and aragonite saturation state (Omega_Ar) as a function of in-depth temperature, in-depth salinity, and surface chlorophyll-a concentration. Lastly, 4D field predictions are made from surface measurements using the neural network followed by the regression models. The model’s performance is evaluated using withheld measurements at multiple depths, locations, and seasons, and the near real-time predictions for temperature, salinity, TAlk, DIC, and Omega_Ar are useful for understanding the impacts and evolution of OCA. Each step of the framework includes uncertainty quantification which can be used for future planning and optimal sensor placement.

Date: Wednesday, 9 October 2024

Time:  1:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT

Register here

A workshop sponsored by the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (OAP).

The OAP is hosting a workshop on Regional Resiliency & Vulnerability Assessments (RVAs) for ocean acidification. RVAs are interdisciplinary projects that supplement the physical, chemical and biological science of ocean acidification with social science to assess regional vulnerability. As currently-funded projects are wrapping up, the OAP is launching a call for another round of RVA projects as it seeks to expand and diversify its portfolio on the Human Dimensions of ocean acidification.

The goals of this workshop are:

1. To hear from past RVAs on lessons learned and next steps;
2. To address common challenges (such as engagement with Indigenous communities, Tribes, and/or other interested groups; working in data-poor regions; and building interdisciplinary teams); and,
3. To facilitate networking and collaborations between OAP-funded PIs and new interested partners.

If you have any questions about the workshop and/or the RVA funding opportunity, please contact Alexandra Puritz, OAP Human Dimensions Research Manager (alexandra.puritz@noaa.gov).

Dates: 18 – 20 March 2025

 Location: National Oceanography Centre (NOC), Southampton, United Kingdom

To register please click here 

8 years after the first Wepal-Quasimeme Ocean Acidification (OA) workshop in Southampton and after 3 years of the AQ15 Wepal-Quasimeme intercalibration exercise, it’s time to bring the Ocean Acidification community back together. 

The first OSPAR QSR on OA was published in 2023 but there is still, more than ever before, a need for high quality data (TA, DIC, pH, pCO2) to strengthen all scientific output on OA. OSPAR, as well as other international initiatives such as ICOS, GOA-ON and AMAP, indicate that strong international collaborative monitoring programmes on OA need to continue, to facilitate meaningful data gathering, collation and assessment. 

A consistent approach to sampling, sample pre-treatment, analysis, quality control, validation of methods, calculation of derived variables and an understanding of methodological limitations is required; methods should be fit for purpose. Many monitoring agencies, with varying levels of experience are analysing samples for carbonate chemistry parameter on different types of instruments but also using new techniques, as more sensors are installed on buoys or ships, or more automated analysers are set up.    

 There’s still a gap in availability of CRMs, standards, buffers for quality control and calibrations when analysing marine samples. Worldwide, Scripps reference materials are used for QC or calibration for total alkalinity (TA), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and pH analysis without having a separate way of ensuring that their measurement system is in control and has a calibration with known linearity. Thus, even when reference materials are used there are likely to be unidentified uncertainties  showing up on a well-designed proficiency study like the QUASIMEME AQ15.

Aims of the Workshop

1. To obtain a consistent approach to sampling, sample pre-treatment sample storage across the OSPAR contracting parties and AMAP countries for all four carbonate parameters (TA / DIC / pCO2 / pH) and discuss sample preservation  alternatives for HgCl2.
2. Discuss the key analytical techniques for all four carbonate chemistry parameter measurements; challenges, limitations and misconceptions affecting quality of results. The emphasis of the workshop will be on the parameters of TA/DIC/pH since these are likely to progress to the OSPAR CEMP but considerations will also be given to pCO2. Discuss new more automated analytical techniques and measurements with sensors. Can these instruments provide data that obtain the weather or climate goals? Are the methods fit for purpose?
3.  To obtain a consistent approach to the analysis of TA/DIC/pH, and correct use of reference materials/standards across the OSPAR and AMAP regions.
4. The role of Quasimeme exercises in Quality assurance and Quality assessment. What are the results after 3 years AQ15 intercalibration exercises and what is the way forward? 
5. Consider the limitations of reference materials across the OSPAR and AMAP regions i.e. salinity ranges, open oceans and coastal waters. New initiatives?
6. Address data quality objectives needed for various assessment purposes. GOA-ON identified the need for two different levels of data quality to ensure the availability of data and permit assessment of short-term variability as well as longer term trends. To be inline with recent years Accreditation Bodies

…

National Oceanography Centre, 23 September 2024. More information.

Registration: Environmental economics research group: Webropolilla luotu kysely (webropolsurveys.com)

Zoom link

Overview

Luke Thompson, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University; Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Title: Plankton community dynamics in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract: NOAA’s Northern Gulf Institute (NGI) and Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) use ‘omics and environmental DNA (eDNA) technologies to provide insights into marine biodiversity and ecosystem health. This talk will highlight regular eDNA-based monitoring efforts through three projects in the Gulf of Mexico: (1) the Gulf of Mexico Ecosystems and Carbon Cycle cruises to study carbonate chemistry and plankton biodiversity across the entire Gulf of Mexico basin, aiding in the understanding of species responses to ocean acidification and carbon cycling; (2) the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration cruises, part of the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON), monitoring water quality and ecosystem status in coastal waters off southwest Florida; and (3) a multi-year sediment trap in the northern Gulf of Mexico aimed at understanding plankton community dynamics and their role in the biological carbon pump. Together, these initiatives are providing comprehensive insights into marine ecosystems and supporting conservation and management strategies. 

Bio: Luke Thompson is an associate research professor at Mississippi State University, based at NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory in Miami, Florida. Luke received his bachelor’s degree at Stanford University and his PhD at MIT, both in biology. His current research focuses on marine systems, from microbes to fish to mammals, using ‘omics methods, especially DNA sequencing. His lab is developing methods for high-throughput environmental DNA sample processing and data analysis, and applying them to monitoring and conservation efforts in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Great Lakes. 

San Francisco State University, 10 September 2024. More information.

NEW DATES: 18-20 March 2025

A Workshop on Quality Assurance for inorganic carbon system measurements in context of ocean acidification monitoring is organised by WEPAL-QUASIMEME, National Oceanography Centre (NOC), Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS). The workshop will be hosted by NOC, Southampton, United Kingdom and will take place 18-20 March 2025.

Wepal-Quasimeme Workshop on Quality Assurance for inorganic carbon system measurements in context of ocean acidification monitoring.

Timing and venue: 18-20 March 2025; National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOC), United Kingdom

Who should attend?
The workshop will be beneficial for technicians and scientists working in the field of Ocean Acidification in seawater.

Registration
Participants should register before 10th March 2025. Your registration is only complete after payment of the registration fee is received in full. The registration fee includes attendance of the workshop, report of the workshop, coffees, teas, lunches and dinners on two nights.

WEPAL-QUASIMEME quest for quality

Eight years after the first Wepal-Quasimeme Ocean Acidification (OA) workshop in Southampton and after three years of the AQ15 Wepal-Quasimeme intercalibration exercise, it’s time to bring the Ocean Acidification community back together.

The first OSPAR QSR on OA was published in 2023 but there is still, more than ever before, a need for high quality data (TA, DIC, pH, pCO2) to strengthen all scientific output on OA. OSPAR, as well as other international initiatives such as ICOS, GOA-ON and AMAP, indicate that strong international collaborative monitoring programmes on OA need to continue, to facilitate meaningful data gathering, collation and assessment.

A consistent approach to sampling, sample pre-treatment, analysis, quality control, validation of methods, calculation of derived variables and an understanding of methodological limitations is required; methods should be fit for purpose. Many monitoring agencies, with varying levels of experience are analysing samples for carbonate chemistry parameter on different types of instruments but also using new techniques, as more sensors are installed on buoys or ships, or more automated analysers are set up.

There’s still a gap in availability of CRMs, standards, buffers for quality control and calibrations when analysing marine samples. Worldwide, Scripps reference materials are used for QC or calibration for total alkalinity (TA), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and pH analysis without having a separate way of ensuring that their measurement system is in control and has a calibration with known linearity. Thus, even when reference materials are used there are likely to be unidentified uncertainties showing up on a well-designed proficiency study like the QUASIMEME AQ15.

Aims of the Workshop

1. To obtain a consistent approach to sampling, sample pre-treatment sample storage across the OSPAR contracting parties and AMAP countries for all four carbonate parameters (TA / DIC / pCO2 / pH) and discuss sample preservation alternatives for HgCl2.
2. Discuss the key analytical techniques for all four carbonate chemistry parameter measurements; challenges, limitations and misconceptions affecting quality of results. The emphasis of the workshop will be on the parameters of TA/DIC/pH since these are likely to progress to the OSPAR CEMP but considerations will also be given to pCO2. Discuss new more automated analytical techniques and measurements with sensors. Can these instruments provide data that obtain the weather or climate goals? Are the methods fit for purpose?
3. To obtain a consistent approach to the analysis of TA/DIC/pH, and correct use of reference materials/standards across the OSPAR and AMAP regions.
4. The role of Wepal-Quasimeme exercises in Quality assurance and Quality assessment. What are the results after 3 years AQ15 intercalibration exercises and what is the way forward?
5. Consider the limitations of reference materials across the OSPAR and AMAP regions i.e. salinity ranges, open oceans and coastal waters. New initiatives?
6. Address data quality objectives needed for various assessment purposes. GOAON identified the need for two different levels of data quality to ensure the availability of data and permit assessment of short-term variability as well as longer term trends. To be inline with recent years Accreditation Bodies.

The One Ocean Science Congress (OOSC), organized by CNRS and IFREMER, will be held in Nice, France, 4 to 6 June 2025. It is a UN Special Event serving as the scientific foundation of the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3).

This three-day congress will generate science-based outcomes and recommendations to support the global discussions at UNOC3.

We welcome contributions from the international scientific community on 10 key themes, which are aligned with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and intended to inform the Ocean Action Panels of UNOC3. These themes are action- and solution-oriented, and designed to transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries:

• Theme 1: Integrating knowledge systems, with a focus on responsibility and respect for the ocean
• Theme 2: Effectiveness, equitability and safety of ocean-based approaches to reach the mitigation and adaptation goals of the Paris Climate Agreement
• Theme 3: Protection and restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems to ensure sustainable and equitable management
• Theme 4: Knowledge of the deep ocean and ways to enable its sustainable use
• Theme 5: Marine genetic resources: from discovery to equitable access and sharing of associated benefits
• Theme 6: Transparency in the fisheries sector, including illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
• Theme 7: Sustainability, equitability, and safety of ocean-based food systems
• Theme 8: Marine plastic pollution
• Theme 9: Environmental footprint of maritime transport and decarbonization of shipping
• Theme 10: Vibrant science to inform and support ocean action

The congress will include a combination of plenary sessions featuring keynote lectures, as well as oral and poster presentations. To foster greater interaction between science, society, action, and policy, and to involve civil society more broadly, ‘town hall’ meetings will also be organized.

Enquiries: enquiries@one-ocean-science-2025.org

One Ocean Science Congress, 4 September 2024. More information.

• Where: Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
• When: Saturday, June 15, 2024
• Time: 10:30am–11:30am
• Admission: Free
• Open to adults & children ages 8+; Family groups encouraged.
• CALL TO REGISTER

Climate change is not just warming the atmosphere, it is also making oceans more acidic. Learn what ocean acidification means for creatures like clams and oysters that use calcium carbonate to build their shells, and for the development of young horseshoe crabs and lobsters. Bring out your inner scientist as you do hands-on activities to explore the problem of rising ocean acidity. Each of the four sessions will feature different activities and video presentations. You may register for one or more sessions.

Please note this workshop has been postponed to 2025.

Dates to de confirmed. In order to best define the dates and make it accessible as possible, kindly fill this survey before 1 July 2024.

SURVEY

8 years after the first Wepal-Quasimeme Ocean Acidification (OA) workshop in Southampton and after 3 years of the AQ15 Wepal-Quasimeme intercalibration exercise, it’s time to bring the Ocean Acidification community back together. 

The first OSPAR QSR on OA was published in 2023 but there is still, more than ever before, a need for high quality data (TA, DIC, pH, pCO2) to strengthen all scientific output on OA. OSPAR, as well as other international initiatives such as ICOS, GOA-ON and AMAP, indicate that strong international collaborative monitoring programmes on OA need to continue, to facilitate meaningful data gathering, collation and assessment. 

A consistent approach to sampling, sample pre-treatment, analysis, quality control, validation of methods, calculation of derived variables and an understanding of methodological limitations is required; methods should be fit for purpose. Many monitoring agencies, with varying levels of experience are analysing samples for carbonate chemistry parameter on different types of instruments but also using new techniques, as more sensors are installed on buoys or ships, or more automated analysers are set up.    

 There’s still a gap in availability of CRMs, standards, buffers for quality control and calibrations when analysing marine samples. Worldwide, Scripps reference materials are used for QC or calibration for total alkalinity (TA), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and pH analysis without having a separate way of ensuring that their measurement system is in control and has a calibration with known linearity. Thus, even when reference materials are used there are likely to be unidentified uncertainties  showing up on a well-designed proficiency study like the QUASIMEME AQ15.

Aims of the Workshop

1. To obtain a consistent approach to sampling, sample pre-treatment sample storage across the OSPAR contracting parties and AMAP countries for all four carbonate parameters (TA / DIC / pCO2 / pH) and discuss sample preservation  alternatives for HgCl2.
2. Discuss the key analytical techniques for all four carbonate chemistry parameter measurements; challenges, limitations and misconceptions affecting quality of results. The emphasis of the workshop will be on the parameters of TA/DIC/pH since these are likely to progress to the OSPAR CEMP but considerations will also be given to pCO2. Discuss new more automated analytical techniques and measurements with sensors. Can these instruments provide data that obtain the weather or climate goals? Are the methods fit for purpose?
3.  To obtain a consistent approach to the analysis of TA/DIC/pH, and correct use of reference materials/standards across the OSPAR and AMAP regions.
4. The role of Quasimeme exercises in Quality assurance and Quality assessment. What are the results after 3 years AQ15 intercalibration exercises and what is the way forward? 
5. Consider the limitations of reference materials across the OSPAR and AMAP regions i.e. salinity ranges, open oceans and coastal waters. New initiatives?
6. Address data quality objectives needed for various assessment purposes. GOA-ON identified the need for two different levels of data quality to ensure the availability of data and permit assessment of short-term variability as well as longer term trends. To be inline with recent years Accreditation Bodies.

…

EVENT AGENDA

The world is waking up to the threat that ocean acidification (OA) poses to marine ecosystems and to the coastal economies that depend on them. OA is a rise in the acidity of seawater caused by an excess of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) being absorbed by the ocean.

 To implement SDG 14.3 “to minimize and address ocean acidification”, OA must become a cross cutting issue embedded across climate, ocean, and marine policies.

 Advancing national OA actions will inform better decision making for achieving domestic mitigation, adaptation, and resilience goals.

 Come learn about the National OA Action Planning Leadership Circle, where invited governments are finding their unique approach to OA Actions across 2024-2025, leading to national implementation of UN SDG 14.3 “to minimize and address OA” by the 3rd UN Ocean Conference in 2025.

Climate change is not just warming the atmosphere, it is also making oceans more acidic. Learn what ocean acidification means for creatures like clams and oysters that use calcium carbonate to build their shells, and for the development of young horseshoe crabs and lobsters. Bring out your inner scientist as you do hands-on activities to explore the problem of rising ocean acidity. Each of the four sessions will feature different activities and video presentations. You may register for one or more sessions.

Where: Cape Cod Museum of Natural History

When: Saturday, 1 June 2024 – 10:30am-11:30am

Admission: free w/admission

Registration required: 508.896.3867 x133

Date: Thursday 11 April 2024
Time: 7:30am-8:30am coffee gathering I 8:30am-9:45am event starts
Location: Barcelona International Convention Centre

You are invited to join us for an ocean acidification event at the 2024 UN Decade of Ocean Science Conference taking place in Barcelona.

“Moving from Science to Action on Ocean Acidification: Why Does It Matter?  How Is It Being Achieved?” will occur on April 11 between 8:30am-9:45am (with 7:30am coffee) at the Barcelona International Convention Center.

The event is co-hosted by the IAEA, OA Alliance, and NOAA in partnership with GOA-ON and OARS.

This event is open to all conference participants, and will feature discussion focused on the need for OA awareness, the importance of capacity building programs in increasing regional science and policy response, pathways forward for OA Action and commitments to OA Actions under the UN Decade of Ocean Science.

Please use this registration link to express your interest in attending.

OA Alliance, 22 March 2024. More information.