Over the past 250 years, the ocean has absorbed about one third of the carbon dioxide released as a result of human activities. The process results in ocean acidification, often referred to as ‘the other CO2 problem’. Whereas the chemical consequences of this CO2 uptake are well known (decrease in pH and shifts in sea-water carbonate chemistry), the biological impacts are poorly understood.
The European Project on Ocean Acidification (EPOCA) was the first international project that focused on ocean acidification and its consequences. It comprised over 160 scientists from 32 institutions in 10 European countries. Partly funded by the European Commission (6.5 M€ for a total budget of 16 M€), the project began in May 2008 and ended in April 2012.
EPOCA research was structured around four themes, some highlights of which are provided below.
Hansson L., Bijma J., Orr J., Riebesell U., Turley C. & Gattuso J.-P., 2012. End of first international large-scale research project on ocean acidification. GeoQ – the quarterly newsletter of the European Geosciences Union 3: 29–32. Article.
0 Responses to “End of first international large-scale research project on ocean acidification”