Gledhill, D. K., Wanninkhof, R., Eakin, C. M.

Observing ocean acidification from space

2009

Oceanography

22

4

48-59

Space-based observations provide synoptic coverage of surface ocean temperature, winds, sea surface height, and color useful to a wide range of oceanographic applications. These measurements are increasingly applied to monitor large-scale environmental and climate processes that can have an impact on important managed marine resources. From observing the development of harmful algal blooms using ocean color to tracking regions of thermal stress that can induce coral bleaching, satellites are routinely used for environmental monitoring. Here, we demonstrate an approach to monitoring changes in sea surface ocean chemistry in response to ocean acidification as applied to the Greater Caribbean Region. The method is based on regionally specific empirical algorithms derived from ongoing ship measurements applied to remotely sensed observables. This tool is important for exploring regional to basinwide trends in ocean acidification on seasonal to interannual time scales.

FY2010 CRCP Project ID 20212; Project Title: Characterization of Ocean Acidification in Coral Reef Waters; Principal Investigator: Dwight Gledhill