Title:
Atlantic Ocean Acidification Test-Bed -- OA Time-Series, Cheeca Rocks, Florida Reef Tract FY2012
Abstract:
The AOAT project is engaged in monitoring/modeling efforts designed to: a) establish
methodologies for monitoring, assessing, and modeling the impacts of Ocean Acidification (OA) on coral reef ecosystems,
b) identify critical thresholds, impacts, and trends necessary for developing forecasts, c) characterize
the variability in carbonate chemistry in coral reef environments, and d) provide data and information
needed to inform ecological impact forecasting. Existing projections of OA on coral reef ecosystems
(e.g. Silverman et al., 2009) make a core assumption that secular declines in carbonate mineral
saturation state (omega, a key parameter of OA interest) are equivalent to those experienced in the oceanic
surface waters. Sustained observations at the AOAT, however, reveal considerable complexity and
diverge from neighboring oceanic waters during most periods. Seasonal ranges in omega values exceed
those anticipated as a consequence of OA over the next several decades. Complexities within
near-reef waters are likely the norm and we seek to better model the primary controls on
near-reef carbonate chemistry. The AOAT has served as a critical venue to foster research
from other agency and academic partners towards the development of techniques which can be
applied to monitor OA within reef environments and quantify the local feedbacks that
can alter rates and magnitude.
Supplemental_Information:
Time is GMT; O2 is concentration of dissolved O2 in seawater in micromoles;
Salinity is in practical salinity units; temperature is in Celsius;
CO2 is reported as mole fraction for atmosphere and seawater
-9 in the data set indicates that the parameter is unavailable