Detailed Notes on Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON)

Date of Publication: June 19, 2019
Authors: Bronte Tilbrook et al.
Focus: Enhanced ocean acidification (OA) observing network for marine science.

Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Involves scientists from various fields including physics, chemistry, biology, and technology.
Support Structure: Requires backing from governments, private sectors, and intergovernmental organizations.
Regional Efforts: Encourages regional cooperation on specific issues.
Data Accessibility: Ensures public access to data from all marine ecosystems (open ocean, coastal, and estuarine).
Integration with Related Networks: Collaborates with other observing networks focusing on related issues and consequences of ocean acidification.
Informational Products: Develops informative products that aid in decision-making for fisheries and aquaculture management.

Impact of CO2: The ocean has absorbed approximately 30% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions since the industrial era.
Changes in pH: Average surface ocean pH has decreased by ~0.11 units since the pre-industrial era, representing a 28% increase in hydrogen ion concentration.
Future Projections: pH may decline by an additional 0.1 to 0.4 units by the end of the century, with carbonate ion concentration declining by up to 50%.
Effects on Marine Lifes: Significant impacts on organisms that rely on calcium carbonate, including mollusks, corals, and plankton, leading to potential dissolution of shells and skeletons.

Adaptive Capacity: Limited understanding of how marine organisms will adapt to changing ocean chemistry.
Complex Interactions: Co-occurrence of multiple stressors such as nutrient addition and respiration complicates assessments of OA.
Regional Variability: Coastal acidification dynamics vary significantly from open ocean dynamics due to diverse influences.

GOA-ON Vision: Launched to coordinate global observations and data synthesis on OA, focusing on both chemical and biological aspects.
Workshops and Goals: Various workshops (Seattle in 2012, St. Andrews in 2013, Hobart in 2016) contributed to the formation of GOA-ON, defining goals and measurement systems.
Establishment of Data Portals: To integrate and provide access to OA-relevant data and monitoring practices across different networks.

Measurement Standards: Different standards for climate (long-term trends) and weather (short-term variations) quality data were established to optimize OA monitoring.
Current Observing Assets: GOA-ON catalog includes 598 assets over oceanic regions, sampling various ecosystem forms including ship-based sampling, moorings, and volunteer observing ships.

Training and Mentorship: Over 40 capacity building opportunities conducted since 2012, targeting developing countries with a focus on OA monitoring.
Pier2Peer Mentorship Program: Matches experienced researchers with early-career professionals to promote skill and knowledge sharing.
Regional Hubs: Established networks in various locations, focusing on region-specific OA needs and capacity enhancement.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): GOA-ON supports SDG Goal 14.3 to minimize OA impacts, with specific targets and indicators established for monitoring.
Policy Integration: Alignment with global action plans (e.g., 2030 Agenda) to support sustainable use of oceans and to track progress on OA issues and solutions.

Continued Growth of Networks: Expansion of regional hubs and collaboration with other observational networks to develop comprehensive monitoring frameworks.
Investment in Technologies: Encourage the development of next-generation, low-cost sensors for enhanced observation and data quality.
Ongoing Assessments and Feedback: Regular assessments of data accessibility and monitoring effectiveness will be essential as new challenges and technological advancements emerge in OA research.