Ocean Acidification

The role of satellites in measuring ocean acidification: a closer look

Satellites have become an invaluable tool in measuring ocean acidification, a phenomenon caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Ocean acidification has the potential to cause widespread disruption to marine ecosystems, and satellites are playing a key role in helping scientists understand and monitor its effects.

Satellites can measure ocean acidification in two ways. The first is by measuring the pH of the ocean, which is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the water. The second is by measuring the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Both of these measurements can be used to calculate the amount of acidity in the ocean.

Satellites can also measure the amount of dissolved inorganic carbon in the ocean, which is a measure of how much carbon dioxide is being absorbed by the ocean. This is important because the more carbon dioxide that is absorbed, the more acidic the ocean becomes.

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How satellites are helping to track ocean acidification

Satellites are playing an increasingly important role in helping scientists to track ocean acidification, a phenomenon caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. As the world’s oceans absorb more and more of this gas, their pH levels drop, making them more acidic. This has a detrimental effect on marine life, as many species are unable to adapt to the changing environment.

In recent years, satellites have become a valuable tool for monitoring ocean acidification. By measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, they can provide an accurate picture of how much is being absorbed by the oceans. This data can then be used to track changes in pH levels over time, allowing scientists to identify areas where acidification is occurring and take steps to mitigate its effects.

Satellites are also being used to monitor other factors that can affect ocean acidification, such as sea surface temperature and salinity. By combining this data with measurements of carbon dioxide levels, scientists can gain a better understanding of how these factors interact and how they contribute to the overall acidification of the oceans.

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The role of satellite data in assessing the impact of ocean acidification

Ocean acidification is a major environmental issue that is impacting marine ecosystems around the world. As atmospheric carbon dioxide levels rise, the ocean absorbs more of this gas, leading to an increase in acidity. This has a direct effect on marine life, as the increased acidity can lead to decreased calcification rates and changes in the availability of essential nutrients.

Satellite remote sensing is becoming increasingly important for oceanography. This technology provides researchers with a powerful tool to study the ocean from space, allowing them to observe and measure the ocean’s physical and biological characteristics.

The most common type of satellite remote sensing used in oceanography is passive microwave remote sensing. This technique uses microwaves to measure the brightness of the ocean’s surface, which can be used to determine sea surface temperature, sea surface height, and sea surface salinity. This data can then be used to monitor ocean currents, track storms, and study ocean circulation patterns.

Satellite remote sensing can also be used to measure ocean color. This technique uses the visible and near-infrared spectrum to measure the color of the ocean’s surface. This data can be used to measure the amount of chlorophyll in the water, which can be used to monitor the health of the ocean’s ecosystems.

Satellite remote sensing also provides researchers with a way to measure the amount of carbon dioxide in the ocean. This data can be used to study the effects of climate change on the ocean’s carbon cycle.

The benefits of satellite remote sensing for oceanography are numerous. It provides researchers with a way to observe and measure the ocean’s physical and biological characteristics from space. This data can be used to monitor ocean currents, track storms, and study ocean circulation patterns. It can also be used to measure the amount of chlorophyll in the water and the amount of carbon dioxide in the ocean. By utilizing satellite remote sensing, researchers can gain a better understanding of the ocean and its role in the global climate system.

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Analyzing the impact of satellite remote sensing on oceanography

The use of satellite remote sensing in oceanography has revolutionized the way scientists study the world’s oceans. By providing a wealth of data on the ocean’s physical and chemical properties, satellite remote sensing has enabled researchers to better understand the complex dynamics of the marine environment.

Satellite remote sensing technology has enabled researchers to map ocean currents, measure sea surface temperatures, and track the movement of pollutants. This data has been invaluable in understanding the impacts of climate change on oceanic ecosystems, as well as in predicting the future of the world’s oceans.

The ability to monitor the oceans from space has also allowed scientists to detect and monitor harmful algal blooms, which can have devastating effects on aquatic life. By providing a detailed picture of the ocean’s surface, satellite remote sensing has enabled researchers to identify areas of algal blooms and track their movement. This data has been used to develop strategies for mitigating the impacts of algal blooms on marine life.

In addition, satellite remote sensing has been used to study the effects of ocean acidification on coral reefs. By measuring changes in the ocean’s chemistry, researchers have been able to identify areas of acidification and track its progression. This data has been used to develop strategies for protecting coral reefs from the effects of acidification.

The use of satellite remote sensing in oceanography has revolutionized the way scientists study the world’s oceans. By providing a wealth of data on the ocean’s physical and chemical properties, satellite remote sensing has enabled researchers to better understand the complex dynamics of the marine environment and develop strategies for mitigating the impacts of climate change and ocean acidification.

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Link to Survey: Survey to Assess Ocean Acidification Research Capacity and Interest in the Caribbean

Description: This survey is being conducted by a Community of Practice (CoP) for Ocean Acidification in the Caribbean in collaboration with The Ocean Foundation. This group seeks to create a strategic framework and funding plan to enable increased capacity to monitor and respond to ocean change in the Caribbean, with a focus on ocean acidification. The results of this survey will assist the Caribbean CoP in seeking appropriate partners and funding to meet the needs of the region.

There are four sections of this survey. Please fill in all questions that are relevant to your work to the best of your ability.

The survey will be open until April 21, 2023. The CoP aims to report on survey results via email and at local conferences (i.e. AMLC Meeting in St. Kitts May 22-26, 2023). The overall goal is to better inform policymakers and funding agencies in the region about OA. 

The survey is only available in English. Chrome provides web page translation via google translate. You may answer the long form questions in your preferred language.

We invite you to share this survey with any additional colleagues whose work is relevant to the activities of the CoP.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Alexis Valauri-Orton (avalauriorton@oceanfdn.org)

To celebrate Women’s History Month, we asked women throughout NOAA Research who make lasting impacts in scientific research, leadership, and support from the field to the office to share how their work contributes to NOAA’s mission of Climate Resilience and preparing for a Climate-Ready Nation. This article highlights an interview with Kaity Goldsmith, Intramural Program Specialist in NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program. Kaity strategically engages across NOAA offices to coordinate and fund ocean and coastal acidification research to better prepare society to respond to changing ocean conditions. 

Our conversation follows:

What does climate resilience or climate-ready nation mean to you? What would you want people to know about NOAA’s work on climate resilience?

Ocean acidification is a fundamental change in the chemistry of the ocean caused by the ocean absorbing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It is caused by the same forces that drive climate change and the mitigation and adaptation mechanisms are in line with creating a more climate ready nation. 

By engaging in ocean acidification research, NOAA promotes an understanding of the possible future conditions and helps communities prepare for those potential realities. I think of it as turning the headlights on in a car so the driver can see down the road and prepare accordingly. By researching the potential impacts of ocean acidification, as well as identifying scientifically sound approaches to dealing with those impacts, the nation has options and time to take climate resilience actions.  

What drew you to the field?

Like so many 19-year olds, I was searching for what my slice in this world could be as I worked towards my bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Sitting in my business classes, I couldn’t find a clear career path that suited me. On a whim one day, I applied to volunteer for an environmental NGO to give back in some small way to the environment that gave me so much solace and peace of mind. In volunteering, I realized the plethora of ways I never knew existed that I could have a career in the natural environment. That realization was an avalanche moment in my life that led me on an incredible path towards working in a field I love.  

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To celebrate Women’s History Month, we asked women throughout NOAA Research who make lasting impacts in scientific research, leadership, and support from the field to the office to share how their work contributes to NOAA’s mission of Climate Resilience and preparing for a Climate-Ready Nation. This article highlights an interview with Libby Jewett, the Director of the Ocean Acidification Program in Silver Spring. Libby founded the Ocean Acidification Program in 2011, has grown its budget and reach, and continues to steer it in important and innovative directions.

Our conversation follows:

What does climate resilience or climate-ready nation mean to you? What would you want people to know about NOAA’s work on climate resilience?

A climate ready nation is one that doesn’t accept the trajectory we are on, but rather works harder to solve the climate problem. In NOAA, we need to figure out how to enhance renewable energy and carbon dioxide removal options, without harming the oceans in the process. From an ocean acidification perspective, a climate ready nation is one in which people have essential information about how ocean acidification is playing out from local to global scales and the tools needed to adapt to its challenges.

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Tiffany Stephens, left, works at the Seagrove Kelp farm in Doyle Bay near Craig on April 14, 2021. (Photo by Jordan A. Hollarsmith/NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center)

To optimists, the plants that grow in the sea promise to diversify the Alaska economy, revitalize small coastal towns struggling with undependable fisheries and help communities adapt to climate change – and even mitigate it by absorbing atmospheric carbon.

Cultivation of seaweed, largely varieties of kelp, promises to buffer against ocean acidification and coastal pollution, the promoters say. Seaweed farms can produce ultra-nutritious crops to boost food security in Alaska and combat hunger everywhere, and not just for human beings.

“Kelp is good for everybody. It’s good for people. It’s good for animals,” Kirk Sparks, with Pacific Northwest Organics, a California company that sells agricultural products, said in a panel discussion at a mariculture conference held in Juneau in February by the Alaska Sea Grant program.

But before it achieves these broad benefits, Alaska’s mariculture industry must first address significant practical issues, including an American consumer market that has yet to broadly embrace seaweed.

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There is encouraging scientific evidence that seaweed cultivation buffers acidification locally, as described in studies from various projects, including some from China, California and New York. Seaweed farming “could serve as a low-cost adaptation strategy to ocean acidification and deoxygenation and provide important refugia from ocean acidification,” said the study from China, published in 2021 in the journal Science of the Total Environment.

But does seaweed farming result in absorption of atmospheric carbon and prevention of it streaming back into the atmosphere? The answer is complicated, according to the science. It depends on what happens to the kelp. If dead and decomposing bits are on land or in shallow waters, they would likely release carbon back into the atmosphere, scientists say.

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Scientists investigating the effects of ocean acidification, microplastic and lanthanum on marine organisms observed color changes in shellfish, immune system issues in some species, a decrease in cell counts and a fall in reproduction. Amid this trend, fish stocks have been gradually decreasing in the Black Sea and the quantity of fish stock does not meet the desired needs, an expert said while drawing attention to the importance of sustainable fishing.

Istanbul University’s Faculty of Science, Department of Biology and General Biology Department faculty members professor Murat Belivermis and professor Önder Kılıç examined the effects of ocean acidification, microplastic and lanthanum, which they refer to as the “triple stress factor,” on marine life in Turkish waters and human consumption within the scope of the project titled “Biological Effects of Stress Factors in the Marine Environment” initiated 10 years ago.

Belivermiş and Kılıç observe the effects of these factors by exposing the creatures they collect from the sea to stress factors in the marine environment they have created in their laboratory at the university, including mollusks, shrimp and sea urchins as they play a key role in the ecosystem.

Stating that they are currently working on a sea urchin species they collected from the Gulf of Saros, Belivermiş said, “These species live in the Marmara Sea and the North Aegean. It will generate important data and will serve us with many solutions for the future,” he said.

Acidification

Acidification in oceans has become a global issue and affects the seas around Türkiye. The reason behind ocean acidification is also increasing carbon dioxide emissions that cause the pH to drop in the sea, and organisms with a calcium carbonate skeleton are particularly affected by it. Living things spend their energy dealing with this acidification, reproduce less and their immune systems are affected, Belivermiş explained.

“Adopting a holistic approach, we have seen whitening in oyster species. In fact in previous studies, we saw reductions in the hemolymph cells of mussels due to acidification. This suggests a problem with the immune system, resulting in weakening or color changes in the shells.”

Kılıç noted that if ocean acidification seriously affects the lives of these species, it will lead to a decrease in the population, and this decrease will also transpire as a decrease in the human food supply.

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The Hercules robot explores a forest of corals and sponges off the coast of British Columbia, in 2018.

Around the world, coral reefs are in decline due to anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Cold-water corals, such as those found off British Columbia, attract less public attention. Yet they are as threatened by global warming as their tropical counterparts.

Off Vancouver Island, underwater mountain ranges rise in the depths of the ocean peaceful. These remains of volcanoes are home to ecosystems of phenomenal diversity, says Robert Rangeley, scientific director of the ocean protection organization, Oceana Canada.

There are huge forests, of different types of corals, such as red tree corals or bamboo. They can be several meters high. There are also glass sponges, false starfish, octopuses, tons and tons of fish, describes the researcher, who participated in an expedition to explore 13 of these seamounts in 2018.

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CO2 is also naturally captured by the oceans, where it dissolves in water to form carbonic acid. When CO2 concentrations are too high, however, it lowers the pH of the water and thus increases its acidity. The hotter the water, the more this cycle is accelerated, argues Gabriel Reygondeau.

Ocean acidification alters the calcification process of corals, which build their skeleton on limestone, explains Gabriel Reygondeau. Some of their vital growth and reproduction functions are also affected.

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Shark fossils date back to the Late Ordovician Period, when a few scales date back to 450 million years ago. AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

If you asked Valentina Di Santo what was the most surprising finding from her latest research project, she would quickly answer, “Well, first, [the fact that] there is not much known about the effect of climate change on elasmobranchs! Sharks and ray are an important group of meso- and top predators but studies to understand the effect of climate-related stressors have been scarce, especially when compared to the vast literature on the effect of climate change on physiological responses of bony fishes.” As one of the oldest and most diverse group of marine vertebrates, elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, rays and sawfishes) have survived multiple extinctions our planet has previously faced. Wipe-outs that killed off their mighty ancestors and even dinosaurs were no match for sharks… but could they finally be facing a foe even they can’t win against?

Enter climate change.

Due to climate change, our oceans are currently experiencing severe changes, including a rise in temperature, a rise in sea level, and an increase in acidity. Ocean acidification was of particular interest to the Assistant Professor of Functional Morphology at Stockholm University because, as she puts it, “understanding intraspecific variation in responses to stressors is key to identify which traits make individuals and group of elasmobranchs more or less vulnerable to the effects of environmental change.”

Because climate change has already begun, scientists have little time to test how severely it impacts different species. It’s important therefore, that researchers focus on the different characteristics (known as ‘physiotypes’) that make individuals more or less vulnerable to rapid warming and acidification. Some of these traits include body size, local adaptation to fluctuating chemical and physical conditions, age-at-maturity. “One of these [important] traits is, for example, locomotor performance,” adds Di Santo. In many animals, locomotor performance plays a fundamental role in determining their fitness. Locomotor performance is closely related to the morphology of the structures responsible for it, such as limbs and fins. In elasmobranchs, it influences vital functions such as reproduction, migration, predator avoidance, small-scale movements, and more. By delving into the literature, the Di Santon’s team was able to integrate findings from previous work on locomotion of marine sharks and rays to identify characteristics that outline potential vulnerabilities and strength of sharks and rays under climate change.

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South of the Florida Keys lies a constellation of coral reefs—a biological and economic treasure found nowhere else in the mainland United States. Since 1990, these reefs have been protected by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, but coral health has still declined. The problems range from rising water temperatures to disease to damage caused by boaters.

Building these reefs has taken corals tens of thousands of years. Decimating them has taken humans mere decades. Since the late 1970s, healthy coral cover in the Florida Keys has fallen 90 percent.

To give these reefs a renewed chance at survival, NOAA is spearheading Mission: Iconic Reefs, one of the most ambitious reef-restoration efforts ever attempted worldwide. By 2040, the mission hopes to have restored 3 million square feet at 7 iconic reef locations—an area the size of 52 football fields—to at least 25 percent coral cover, which should be enough to allow them to repair themselves the rest of the way.

The effort involves dozens of partners: nurseries to grow millions of corals for replanting; labs and scientists to guide decisions about which corals to use and how to prepare them for conditions on the reef; technical divers to clean up dead, algae-covered reefs; and citizen-science volunteers to help plant corals and maximize their chances of survival through ongoing coral gardening—removing predators and pests, and restoring damaged corals.

But with continued climate warming and ocean acidification expected in the foreseeable future, finding and breeding corals tough enough to withstand heat stress and rising acidity must be part of the process. So, the project will take a phased approach, allowing some restoration work to begin immediately, while simultaneously supporting ongoing research.

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Bleached coral. Photo: Vardhan Patankar, Wikimedia

The world’s oceans form a primary component of the climate system. They contribute to climate regulation by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and heat. They have absorbed over a quarter of human-caused CO₂ and around 90% of the excess heat produced in recent decades. The oceans are by far the largest active carbon reservoir on the planet, storing about 38,000 billion tonnes of carbon. They are also a crucial source of food supply and livelihoods for billions of people.

However, climate change is causing the oceans to warm and become more acidic, which in turn is may affect how the oceans absorb and store carbon. This includes the possibility that, as anthropogenic CO₂ emissions continue, some of the ocean carbon sequestration routes could change from a being sink to a source in the future.

Ocean warming, melting ice and sea-level rise

The excess heat taken up by the oceans has increased their mean temperature at an average rate of 0.11°C per decade since 1970. Because the oceans redistribute heat towards the poles, this warming is contributing to the melting of ice sheets and glaciers and leading to a rise in the mean sea level – currently estimated at 0.19m between 1901 and 2010. The greatest threat of future sea level rise comes from the possibility that the massive ice sheets in the Antarctic and Greenland could melt. Sea level rise is also caused by thermal expansion, whereby seawater becomes less dense and expands as it warms, and in recent decades this has been one of the major drivers in this change – responsible for over one-third of all sea level rise observed.

Since the industrial revolution began a little over 200 years ago, the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere has increased due to the burning of fossil fuels, cement production, and land use change. The ocean acts as a “carbon sink” and absorbs between 20% and 30% of the CO₂ emissions released into the atmosphere. When CO₂ is absorbed by seawater, the chemistry of the ocean is changed. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as ocean acidification (OA). 

Ocean acidification is a global threat to the world’s oceans, estuaries, and waterways. OA can harm sea life, particularly commercially valuable species. It is best known for its osteoporosis-like effects on shellfish, which makes building and maintaining shells difficult for oysters, clams, sea urchins, shallow water corals, and deep sea corals. Ocean acidification is expected to have negative overall effects on many marine species which could alter marine food web, change the community composition and structure, and food supply to humans.

The growing concern about acidity has led to an increase in research, monitoring, and the development of management measures. Long-term monitoring and scientific analysis of ocean carbon data are critical to anticipate, mitigate, and adapt to potential future changes. Effective stewardship of important OA data is also essential. A new set of OA climatologies has been developed that provides valuable OA information for the coastal ocean where 90% of fisheries yields are located. 

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The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development programme “Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability” (OARS), spearheaded by the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON), invites you to participate in the community review of its white papers. 

The OARS programme provides a vision for ocean acidification research for the next decade by setting out a roadmap that, when implemented in collaboration with multiple partners, will deliver against seven outcomes by 2030. These outcomes are: 

1. Enable the scientific community to provide ocean acidification data and evidence of known quality.
2. Identify data and evidence needs for mitigation and adaptation strategies, from local to global, by 2022.
3. Co-design and implementation of observation strategies in collaboration with data/information producers and end-users by 2025.
4. Increase understanding of ocean acidification impacts to protect marine life by 2030.
5. Provide appropriate data and information necessary to the development of societally relevant predictions and projections.
6. Increase public awareness of ocean acidification, its sources and impacts.
7. Develop strategies and solutions to enable countries and regions to include measures to reduce ocean acidification in their respective policy and legislation.

Each of these seven outcomes is led by co-champions, experts in their fields, who, together with their expert working group, will develop the path towards achieving their outcomes. These seven white papers are an important step on that path: Each paper outlines the vision for the outcome, highlights the key outputs and products, describes the research and outreach activities and identifies the key inputs and partners necessary to successfully implement each outcome.    

With this review, we invite the community to provide their thoughts and input to the OARS programme and the implementation plans. 

To participate in the review, please download the pdf of the outcome or outcomes you would like to review as well as the review template (available here). Use the template to submit your specific comments, referencing the precise outcome and page your comment  ; one single template can be used to review more than one white paper. Once you have finished the review, please send your completed template to the GOA-ON Secretariat secretariat@goa-on.org no later than 20. March 2023. 

If you are interested in contributing to any of the seven OARS outcomes or just want to hear more, please contact us! The GOA-ON secretariat will put you in touch with the outcome champions: secretariat@goa-on.org