Ocean acidification session at AGU fall meeting

OS021: The Carbonate System Chemistry of Coastal Ecosystems: Physical, Chemical and Biological Drivers

Ocean acidification (OA) is changing the carbonate system chemistry of the ocean with potentially profound impacts on marine organisms and ecosystems. While the chemistry of OA is well understood, physical processes and biological feedbacks complicate efforts to project future conditions. This is especially true for the coastal ocean where carbonate chemistry is strongly affected by complex circulation patterns, high rates of biogeochemical cycling and terrestrial input. This session highlights observational and modeling studies of the chemical, physical and biological processes that control carbonate chemistry of coastal environments from near shore to continental shelf, including coral reefs.

Session on ocean acidification at the EUR-OCEANS hot topics conference – A changing ocean

This EUR-OCEANS Conference will be hosted by PLOCAN in Gran Canaria, Spain, 6-8 November 2013. The conference aims at showing progress and perspectives on selected ‘hot topics’ in Marine Science. Over the past 5 years, the EUR-OCEANS Consortium has identified, supported and promoted a number of such topics, notably by funding foresight workshops, flagship programs and other types of activities. One of the hot topics is “Ocean deoxygenation and acidification”.

General Assembly to explore impact of ocean acidification due to rising carbon emissions from human activities, 17-20 June

The United Nations General Assembly will consider the impact of increasing ocean acidification on the marine environment and on people as the theme of this year’s informal consultative process on oceans, to be held from 17 to 20 June.

By absorbing increased amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide caused by human activities, oceans have become 30 per cent more acidic than they were at the beginning of the industrial revolution 250 years ago, according to data cited in a report by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the General Assembly.  It is predicted that, by 2050, ocean acidity could increase by 150 per cent, a rate 100 times faster than any change in acidity experienced in the marine environment over the last 20 million years.

APECS panel at the International Arctic Ocean Acidification conference 2013 (video)

APECS Panel ”Ocean Acidification in the future Arctic: From science to policy – tips for early career scientists” during the International Arctic Ocean Acidification conference, 7 May 2013 – Bergen, Norway

NOAA ocean acidification June teacher workshops in South Florida (stipends provided)

NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program cordially invites teachers in the south Florida area to attend a one-day workshop on ocean acidification, introducing our new OA Data-in-the-Classroom NODE module. Teachers will learn to use real data from NOAA to teach ocean acidification and how it affects coral reefs and other marine calcifiers, using integrated scalable lesson plans associated with this module. Workshop will include demos and multimedia to use in your classroom, a background science presentation on ocean acidification, and a walk-through of the five scalable lesson plans and data exercises that are part of this Data-in-the-Classroom project. Teachers will receive $75 stipend for workshop participation and $25 stipend after follow up survey. Teachers will also receive additional educational materials on coral reefs and ocean acidification, including posters, OA teachers guide, and multimedia DVDs. Limited seating: Participants will receive confirmation email once their registration is processed.

Ocean acidification in Washington State: an exploration of its chemical, biological, and societal impacts

Saturday 15 June 2013, 4 PM

Part of the Seattle Science Festival

Ocean acidification is caused by very well understood chemical processes, though its progression in coastal estuaries is complicated by a variety of human activities. The US Pacific Northwest is a hot spot for rapid progression of ocean acidification. The region’s oyster industry has likely already experienced its negative effects. For this reason and with great foresight, the former governor of Washington, Christine Gregoire, convened a Blue Ribbon Panel on ocean acidification to summarize the state of ocean acidification science relevant to Washington State and make recommendations for action. In response to the Panel’s recommendations, Gov. Gregoire signed an executive order for Washington to act on the problem of ocean acidification. By addressing ocean acidification with policy, the governor took unprecedented action both nationally and globally. This presentation will explain ocean acidification, explore its ecological and economic implications for Washington and the Pacific Northwest, and discuss the Panel’s recommendations.

Registration for the U.S. Ocean Acidification Principal Investigators’ Meeting, 18-20 September 2013, Washington DC

Registration is open for the U.S. Ocean Acidification Principal Investigators’ Meeting, September, 18-20, 2013. The meeting will be held in Washington, DC, at Gallaudet University’s Kellogg Conference Center.

Note that there will be a special event the evening before the meeting (17 September) hosted by COMPASS:

*OCEAN TAPAS: SMALL BITES OF BIG OA ISSUES* Tuesday September 17 2013, 7:00pm-8:00pm (Kellogg Conference Center Auditorium)

The OAPI Meeting will kick off with a fast-paced discussion among journalists and scientists on the latest findings, thorniest challenges, and social relevance of ocean acidification science. Moderated by Nancy Baron (COMPASS Director of Science Outreach), this panel will highlight the hot topics in the field and jumpstart conversations about communicating your science at the OAPI meeting and beyond. Join us for this lively event and the chance to meet and talk with the journalists at the no-host reception to follow. You will have a chance to make great new connections with the media and hopefully each other in this fun kick-off event.

See the meeting website for more details.

When you register, please be ready to provide:

Registration details (Name, contact information, dietary restrictions)
Small head-shot photo (about 120×125 pixels)
Primary research area or area of interest
List of up to 3 OA projects you’re involved in
List of up to 3 relevant publications (with DOI and/or hyperlink)
Hyperlink for your personal website with more details

CONFERENCE STREAMING: International Conference on Arctic Ocean Acidification, Bergen, Norway, 6 – 8 May 2013

The International Conference on Arctic Ocean Acidification, Bergen, Norway, 6 – 8 May 2013 will be streamed live. Join in from Monday 6 May at 9 a.m. CET!

Ocean acidification in Washington State: Shallin Busch (video)

Shallin Busch is a research ecologist at NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWSFC). Her current research focuses on how ocean acidification may impact North Pacific ecosystems. Using the NWFSC ocean acidification experimental system, Dr. Busch applies ecological models to explore how acidification’s impacts on susceptible species cascade through food webs, via trophic interactions, to affect other species. To date, these species include geoduck, Pacific oyster, mussels, manila clam, Pacific herring, China rockfish, surf smelt, Dungeness crab, krill, and copepods. Dr. Busch aims to generate data relevant to management of species and communities in a changing environment. Dr. Busch served on the Washington State Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification, and discusses how their 2012 report is informing state policy decisions.

Special symposium on Climate Change and Molluscan Ecophysiology

We would like to draw your attention to a special symposium on Climate Change and Molluscan Ecophysiology, jointly sponsored by the American Malacological Society and the Company of Biologists, to be held at the upcoming World Congress of Malacology in the Azores July 22-26, 2013. The symposium will address the direct (ocean acidification) and indirect (warming and expanding hypoxia) impacts of increased carbon dioxide on the calcification, energetics, ecology, and biogeography of mollusks and the physiological mechanisms available to combat or tolerate these changes.