Scoping Workshop on Ocean Acidification Research 2007

Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry Scoping Workshop on Ocean Acidification Research
Scripps Institution of Oceanography (La Jolla, CA)
October 9-11, 2007

Dear Colleagues:

The Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry (OCB) program solicited input toward a workshop to promote collaborative research on Ocean Acidification. OCB had identified Ocean Acidification as one of several Research Priorities, and had  kick-started community involvement in planning at a workshop held October 9-11, 2007 at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California. The deadline to apply was September 5, 2007.

MOTIVATION: The goal of this workshop was to bring together researchers to discuss potential ocean acidification research projects that support the OCB mission.We specifically wanted to move toward specific implementation strategies to address the many research gaps and unknowns about ocean acidification that have been identified in previous workshops. A list of such unknowns is included at the end of this page.

LOGISTICS AND TIMING: Drs. Victoria Fabry and Chris Langdon volunteered to organize the workshop and solicited additional participation from the community. OCB provided funding for the workshop; funding for participant travel costs was contingent on the number of participants. We anticipated that up to five research topics would be highlighted for in-depth discussion at the workshop.These were selected from your recommendations.

WORKSHOP PRODUCTS: A formal report on the workshop findings, based on participant input, was written and posted on the OCB website after the workshop.

This was an opportunity to explore collaborative research ideas on ocean acidification. We hope that this will provided many of you with information and guidance you need to develop coherent and exciting research proposals under the OCB.

Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry  http://www.us-ocb.org/

Examples of discussion topics for this meeting (there are, of course, many more such projects, and we will consider all of your recommendations):

1) Effects of acidification on the calcium carbonate pump, including production, dissolution and ballasting.

2) Linkages between benthic calcification and water column biogeochemistry.

3) Effects of ocean acidification on nutrient and trace element availability.

4) Biocalcification mechanisms in coral, plankton, etc., as they relate to seawater biogeochemistry.

5) Improvements in carbonate system monitoring (key areas, standardization of measurements and techniques, coordination with other observation systems, technological developments, etc.).

6) Physiological and calcification studies to better our understanding of the various mechanisms of calcification and the photosynthesis/calcification relationship in autotrophs and in heterotrophs with photosynthetic symbionts.

7) Improvements in understanding both the physiological and calcification responses of organisms and communities to ocean acidification at multiple scales (organism, community, ecosystem), and in concert with other factors (e.g. light, nutrients), and the feedbacks to ocean biogeochemistry.

8) Laboratory and field studies designed to determine the capacity of organisms to adapt to ocean acidification.

9) Changes in benthic calcification rates and the associated impacts on coastal zone sources and sinks of atmospheric CO₂.