NOAA Ocean Acidification Program

Presented at :Ocean Climate Observation 8th Annual PI MeetingJune 2012

Presented by:Dr. Christopher SabineDirector, PMEL

Image courtesy NOAA PMELhttp://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/Ocean+Acidification

Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring (FOARAM) Act of 2009

Foster, direct, coordinate:(A) interdisciplinary research to improve understanding of ocean acidification; (B) establish a long-term monitoring program for ocean acidification(C) research to identify and develop adaptation strategies for conservation of marine

ecosystems;(D) educational opportunities exploring the impacts of ocean acidification; (E) national public outreach (F) coordination of ocean acidification monitoring and impacts research with other

appropriate international ocean science bodies

FOARAM ACTIWG -

OA

NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (SEC. 12406)

NS

FN

AS

A

NO

AA

NOAANASA

NSFUSGSBOEM

EPAFWSDOS

The NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (OAP) was established under SEC. 12406. of the Federal Ocean Acidification and Monitoring Act (FOARAM) to oversee and coordinate research, monitoring, and other activities consistent with the strategic research and implementation plan developed by the interagency working group on ocean acidification.

NOAA Ocean Acidification Program Oversight Structure

OA Progra

m

Executive

Oversight Board Working

Group“NOAWG

”

OAR – Chris SabineNMFS – Ned CyrNOS – Paul SandiferNESDIS – Margarita Gregg

Ocean Acidification Working GroupNOAWG

Monitor TrendsOAR Laboratory and OER Reps

CRCP RepNational Marine Sanctuaries Rep

IOOS Rep

Ecosystem ResponsesNMFS Laboratory Reps

NCCOS/NOS RepCRCP Rep

Model changesNMFS Laboratory Reps

NCCOS/NOS RepCRCP Rep

OAR Laboratory reps

Synthesize DataNODC/NESDIS Rep

Data ExpertAll Laboratory Reps

Adaptation StrategiesSea Grant Rep

Climate Program Office Rep

Outreach and EducationOA Program Office

Sea Grant RepInternationally recognized OA

expert

FO

AR

AM

AC

TIW

G -

O

A

NO

AA

OA

PNSF NASA

NOAANASA

NSFUSGS

Overall Guiding Questions….

The research objectives detailed in the NOAA National OA Plan are guided by the following overarching hypotheses: •Hypothesis 1. Rates and magnitude of OA will vary across time, space, and depth as a consequence of local and regional geochemical, hydrological, and biological mechanisms.

•Hypothesis 2. OA will change ecosystem structure and function.

•Hypothesis 3. Heterogeneity in species-specific responses, local secondary environmental factors and regional considerations will confer a broad range of vulnerabilities that differ both locally and regionally among marine ecosystems.

NOAA

USDA

EPAFish & Wild

DOS

Changing ocean chemistry

Biological/Ecosystem Response

Socio-Economic Impacts

Adaptation Strategies

Educational Resources

Data Management

OAP Thematic Focus Areas

National Program

Collaboration and coordination across international, federal and state agencies is vital.

West coast OA Observing Network

Image courtesy NOAA PMELhttp://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/Ocean+Acidification

PMEL PIs: Richard A. Feely, Christopher L. Sabine, Simone Alin, Adrienne Sutton, Gregory Johnson, Steve Hankin, Meghan Cronin, Christian Meinig, Russell Brainard (NMFS)

Academic Partners: Jeremy Mathis (UA), Jan Newton (UW), Burke Hales (OSU), Jack Barth (OSU), Lauren Juranek (OSU), Uwe Send (SIO), Mark Ohman (SIO), Andrew Dickson (SIO), Robert Weller (WHOI), Eric De Carlo (UH)

Changing ocean chemistry

THEME 1. Monitoring Trends

On the continental shelf and in Puget Sound undersaturated (W<1) low pH (<7.7) conditions are present during late summer months, most often in near-bottom waters.

The largest local respiration signals are found in Hood Canal and the Washington-Oregon coastal waters where local hypoxia due to respiration processes significantly add to acidification conditions in the late summer months.

In addition to the anthropogenic CO2 uptake, upwelling and respiration processes are major contributors to the high pCO2 and low pH, undersaturated bottom waters that are highly vulnerable to further acidification in the future, therefore there is a need for strong linkages with biological process studies.

2011 August – September

Changing ocean chemistry

Changing ocean chemistry

International Ocean Acidification

PIs: Dr. Krisa Arzayus and Dr. Hernan Garcia, NOAA/NESDIS National Oceanographic Data Center

1. Provides support to NODC and partner data providers to establish end-to-end scientific data management coordination.

2. Establish OA Data Stewardship System (OADSS)

3. Serve as NOAA OA data focal point

Data Management

OA Data Management Workshop

1. NOAA OAP led2. Seattle, March 20123. Multi - agency4. PIs and data managers5. Already bearing fruit as

develop protocols for data sharing

NOAA-wide Implementation of OA Strategy• Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)

– OA Program Office (HQ)– Observing, modeling and technology development (PMEL/AOML)– QA/QC for laboratories/universities (PMEL/AOML)– Coral reef research and monitoring (AOML)– National Sea Grant College Program: extramural research, communication, extension (300+

agents)– Climate Program Office: Office of Climate Observation and Carbon Cycle Program – Earth System modeling (GFDL )

• NOAA’s Fisheries Service (NMFS)– Species specific experiments on commercial or recreational fishery species or their

food/prey including primary producers (NEFSC, NWFSC, AFSC)– Coral reef research and monitoring (PIFSC)– Building shared-resource mesocosm infrastructures (NEFSC, NWFSC, AFSC)– Fishery Impacts modeling (NEFSC, NWFSC, AFSC)

• National Ocean Service (NOS)– U.S. IOOS Program Office and Regional Associations: OA is one of the current seven HIGH

priority observing foci– Coral Reef Conservation Program– Biogeochemical and Ecosystem OA Impacts Modeling– extramural program - FY 12 RFP

(NCCOS/CSCOR)– NCCOS Laboratories– National Marine Sanctuaries: Research and outreach plans for sanctuaries– National Estuarine Research Reserves: Adding pH to monitoring programs– Arctic Program

• National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)– NODC: Data Archives– Coral Reef Watch– Satellite sensing of phytoplankton blooms

Questions or Comments…

The Ocean Acidification Program looks forward to a strong

partnership with the Office of Climate Observations and hopes that

they can continue to find synergistic ways to collaborate.