SOCAN March/April Newsletter

MARCH/APRIL 2019 NEWSLETTER

NEWS FROM THE SOUTHEAST:

ACIDIFICATION IN THE STATES. UP FIRST: NORTH CAROLINA.

One of SOCAN’s goals is to synthesize acidification information at state and local levels to understand the drivers and impacts of coastal acidification and inform decision-making in these communities. First up? North Carolina! View the new SOCAN North Carolina page here and learn about recent research below.

Decadal Scale Acidification Trends in Adjacent North Carolina Estuaries

Guest post from researcher Bryce Van Dam

In contrast with open-ocean environments, large variations in estuarine pH can mask the effect of acidification from anthropogenic CO ₂ . In our recently published study , we dug into long-term datasets and found very different trends for two neighboring North Carolina estuaries. In the river-dominated Neuse estuary, significant acidification trends were associated with an increase in primary production and elevated river discharge. High rates of primary production in the Neuse, spurred by eutrophication, deliver organic matter to bottom water. The break down of this material contributed to excess CO ₂ -induced acidification.

While river discharge also increased in the marine-dominated New estuary, it had the opposite effect on pH trends, where the relatively high alkalinity of this river buffered any CO ₂ -induced acidification. This research illustrates why we should consider each estuary as a unique ecosystem where pH responds not only to global CO ₂ levels but also to various local and regional-scale processes.

Meet the Scientist: Dr. Bryce Van Dam

I am currently a postdoctoral associate at Florida International University. As a biogeochemist interested in the role of coastal ecosystems in the global carbon cycle, my research attempts to explain why systems like rivers, estuaries, and nearshore coastal waters are net sources or sinks of carbon. This research is analogous to financial accounting, where I tally up carbon fluxes between adjacent ecosystem components. My research also seeks to address how carbon biogeochemistry affects and is influenced by anthropogenic factors like coastal ocean acidification and harmful algal blooms.

SOCAN CAPACITY BUILDING WORKING GROUP

Interested in getting involved with SOCAN? We are launching a new Capacity Building Working Group (CBWG) that will seek to identify opportunities and leverage resources to advance acidification monitoring, research and outreach efforts in the Southeast. The CBWG will join the Science Working Group, active since 2016, as the second working group of SOCAN. Please contact SOCAN if you are interested in joining.

OTHER NEWS:

Located in the Mid-Atlantic Region? The Mid-Atlantic Coastal Acidification Network (MACAN) is seeking stakeholder perspectives. Learn more about their survey here.

Webinar : “The Ocean Acidification Data Stewardship (OADS) and the Ocean Carbon Data System (OCADS) Projects", hosted by MACAN, presented by Liqing Jiang on May 8th at 12pm.

Project plan: Tampa Bay Ocean and Coastal Acidification Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan

Publication : Dynamic CO2 and pH levels in coastal, estuarine, and inland waters: Theoretical and observed effects on harmful algal blooms

Publication : Socio-economic tools to mitigate the impacts of ocean acidification on economies and communities reliant on coral reefs–a framework for prioritization

Publication : Seasonal carbonate chemistry dynamics on southeast Florida coral reefs: localized acidification hotspots from navigational inlets

Special Issue : From Sciences to Solutions: Ocean acidification impacts on ecosystem services-Case studies on coral reefs

Publication and data product : New trend detection paper and a time-series data product

New Technology: Sub-surface Automated Sampler- free plans and training

OPPORTUNITIES:

Postdoctoral opportunity : ocean acidification coral reef science at the The Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS) at the University of Miami

ORISE research opportunity in coastal carbonate chemistry at EPA

SECOORA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Ocean Acidification Program are facilitating the operation of the SOCAN to support and encourage discussions on ocean and coastal acidification in the Southeast region.