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 (O, 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 O-values exceed those anticipated as aconsequence 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.
OA is expected to reduce the calcification rates of marine organisms, yet we have little understanding of how OA will manifest within dynamic, real-world systems, nor how to accurately measure said manifestation.
Column 1 is time of day (fractional day); column 2 is Net Ecosystem Calcification, mmol/m2/hr; column 3 is Net Ecosystem Productivity, mmol/m2/hr. Net Community Producitivity is calculated based on changes in O2 within the benthic boudary layer as a function of turbulent water velocity (Kz) as described in McGillis et al. (2011) Net Ecosystem Calcifiication is calculated based on changes in Total Alkalinity (TA) within the benthic boundary layer as a function of turbulent water velocity (Kz) as described in McGillis et al. (2011). Secondary measurement of net ecosystem calcification This is another way to measure NEC, using a different technique. The technique for which these data (NCP_NEC_BEAMS_FGB_AOAT_2015_JUN.dat) are based on differences in pH and O2 in the benthic boundary layer based as a function of turbulent water velocity (Kz) as described in McGillis et al. (2011). REF CITED: McGillis, W. R., Langdon, C., Loose, B., Yates, K. K., & Corredor, J. (2011). Productivity of a coral reef using boundary layer and enclosure methods. Geophysical Research Letters, 38, 3611. -9 in the data set indicates that the parameter is unavailable
ground condition
None
4301 Rickenbacker Causeway
Data has been reviewed and edited in attempt to remove unreliable values.
none
Data have been manually screened and erroneous values due to instrument malfunction have been noted and/or removed.
Disclaimer- While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.
