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Topical Subcommittees

Ocean Acidification Subcommittee

Ocean acidification is a high priority research topic identified by OCB. The far-reaching effects of ocean acidification on marine biogeochemical cycles and biology, combined with the increasing interest in the topic both nationally and internationally, prompted the OCB-SSC to recommend the formation of an Ocean Acidification Subcommittee in 2008 to promote, plan, and coordinate collaborative, multidisciplinary research opportunities related to ocean acidification. For more information on the OCB OA Subcommittee, please download the OCB-OA Terms of Reference. For more information about national and international ocean acidification activities, please visit the OCB ocean acidification website.

Ocean Fertilization Subcommittee

Projected increases in atmospheric CO2 levels and potential associated changes in the earth's climate have prompted scientists and engineers to devise strategies for removing some of this CO2 from the atmosphere. One such strategy involves the addition of micronutrients such as iron to the ocean to stimulate phytoplankton activity, thus increasing photosynthesis and subsequent removal of atmospheric CO2. Understanding the importance of keeping the OCB community connected to ocean fertilization science and policy activities, the OCB SSC recently identified the need for an ocean fertilization subcommittee. With oversight from this subcommittee, the OCB Project Office has developed an ocean fertilization website as a clearinghouse of ocean fertilization news and informational resources to support the OCB community.

This OCB subcommittee is charged with:

• Developing and maintaining an informational website with scientific and educational tools and resources for the OCB community
• Responding to requests for information on ocean fertilization from media, educators, and the OCB community
• Providing input on scientific planning activities related to ocean fertilization

Ocean Time-Series Advisory Committee

OCB SSC member Ken Johnson is the chair of the Ocean Time-Series Advisory Committee (OTSAC), which is charged with reviewing existing ocean biogeochemical time-series (e.g., HOT, BATS, CARIACO), developing recommendations to improve the effectiveness and inter-comparability of these time-series, and interfacing with the OCB research community to identify and communicate the needs for existing and future time-series sites.

At the end of August 2007, OTSAC distributed a questionnaire to PIs at the three ocean time-series under review (BATS, HOT, and CARIACO). The questionnaire was designed to 1) Collect information on a wide array of chemical, physical, and biological parameters that were currently being measured, as well as what was proposed in the 2007 renewal submissions to NSF; and 2) Identify the needs of the time-series sites. Based on the responses to the questionnaire, OTSAC members submitted an initial summary report to the OCB SSC. The report includes a tabular summary of measurements being made at each time-series site (HOT, BATS, CARIACO) as they relate to core measurements specified by the 1996 JGOFS Time-Series Oversight Committee. The report also highlights specific data inter-comparability issues among the three sites for future consideration.