Observations and synthesis to establish variability and trends of oceanic pH
Lead Research Organisation:
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Department Name: Plymouth Marine Lab
Abstract
We propose a programme of observations, combined with analysis of past and ongoing time series, to discover the magnitude of surface pH variations at seasonal-up-to-decadal time scales. We will address the Atlantic, UK shelf and slope waters, and selected locations in the Southern Ocean, using data from time series stations and volunteer observing ships (VOS), measuring three parameters of the marine carbonate system. The programme will be integrated with the efforts of colleagues in other European countries, (enablng better and longer-term coverage, and of of a wider area). It will be co-ordinated with the Surface ocean carbon atlas project (SOCAT) which aims to produce the most comprehensive and up to date data base to access all the quality data relevant to ocean carbon uptake, and from which pH trends can be derived. Estimation of decadal trends change will be set against the background of intra- and inter-annual variation.
Publications
Bakker D
(2014)
An update to the Surface Ocean CO<sub>2</sub> Atlas (SOCAT version 2)
in Earth System Science Data
Kitidis V
(2017)
Surface ocean carbon dioxide during the Atlantic Meridional Transect (1995-2013); evidence of ocean acidification
in Progress in Oceanography
Kitidis V
(2012)
Seasonal dynamics of the carbonate system in the Western English Channel
in Continental Shelf Research
Le Quéré C
(2015)
Global carbon budget 2014
in Earth System Science Data
Rees A
(2015)
20 Years of the Atlantic Meridional Transect-AMT
in Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin
Ribas-Ribas M
(2014)
Intercomparison of carbonate chemistry measurements on a cruise in northwestern European shelf seas
in Biogeosciences
Rérolle V
(2014)
Controls on pH in surface waters of northwestern European shelf seas
Rérolle VMC
(2018)
High Resolution pH Measurements Using a Lab-on-Chip Sensor in Surface Waters of Northwest European Shelf Seas.
in Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
| Description | A fully automated instrument was installed and operated on a British Antarctic Research Ship that travelled between the UK, the Southern Ocean and the Arctic. Measurements of the concentrations of carbon dioxide gas both in the atmosphere and in the water were made and samples collected for the analysis of inorganic carbon and alkalinity. With these measurements we can calculate the pH of seawater. We also made measurements of carbon dioxide in the air and water at two fixed locations off Plymouth and in a field experiment around the UK 1. To increase the number of measurements of this gas in remote areas of the oceans and in coastal shelf seas. These data will be used by PML, UK and International scientists to determine how much carbon dioxide the oceans are taking up from the atmosphere and how quickly the pH of the oceans and shelf seas are reducing in response to this uptake. The Western English Channel is a net sink for atmospheric CO2 over an annual cycle |
| Exploitation Route | This work will contribute to work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, by informing on the role of coastal seas and the open oceans as sinks for atmospheric and anthropogenic CO2 and how quickly the pH of seawater is responding to this uptake. |
| Sectors | Energy,Environment,Transport |
| Description | Changes in the pH of seawater have both direct and indirect impacts on marine chemistry, marine biology and on the ability of the oceans to take up anthropogenic carbon dioxide. Our measurements are submitted to SOCAT an international database and findings used by us, national and international scientists to assess the ocean uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Results feed into the IPCC reports and hence to governments and policy makers. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
| Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Energy,Environment,Transport |
| Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
| Description | NERC LTSM |
| Amount | £500,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2016 |
| End | 09/2021 |
| Title | Southern Ocean pCO2 dataset 2010-11 |
| Description | Data on the CO2 content of seawater and air. Collected on RRS James Clark Ross during operations in the Southern Ocean. Data have been processed, quality controlled and submitted to project partners. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2012 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Data will be used by other groups in publications via the SOCAT database and via BODC |
| Title | Southern Ocean pCO2 dataset 2011-12 |
| Description | Data on the CO2 content of seawater and air. Collected on RRS James Clark Ross during operations in the Southern Ocean. Data have been processed, quality controlled and submitted to project partners. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2012 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Papers via BODC and SOCAT databases |
| Title | Southern Ocean pCO2 dataset 2012-13 |
| Description | Data on the CO2 content of seawater and air. Collected on RRS James Clark Ross during operations in the Southern Ocean. Data have been processed, quality controlled and submitted to project partners. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | papers via SOCAT and BODC databases |
| Title | UK OA research cruise D366 pCO2 (PML) |
| Description | Data on the CO2 content of seawater and air. Collected on RRS Discovery during the 2011 UK Ocean Acidification research cruise. Data have been processed, quality controlled and submitted to project partners and the British Oceanographic Data Centre. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2012 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Papers via BODC and SOCAT databases |
| Title | pCO2 data for 2013 season |
| Description | Underway pCO2 data in air and water from the JCR. Data have also been submitted to SOCAT |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | papers via SOCAT and ODC databases |
| Description | Collaboration with QMUL |
| Organisation | Queen Mary University of London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | A collaboration was established for research cruise D373 led by M.Trimmer (Queen Mary University London. Initially, the Plymouth Marine Laboratory supplied data on the CO2 content of seawater and air during this cruise. Relevant-peer reviewd publications are in preparation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint publications being prepared |
| Impact | Peer-reviewed papers in preparation |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | International Carbon Observing System, 1st Annual Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | About 250 scientists and some policy makers attended my presentation with questions and on-going discussion over the next few days. Expect to be able to influence the research direction of ICOS and hence give better guidance to policy makers on global greenhouse gas inventories and possible mitigation/adaptation strategies |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.icos-infrastructure.eu/ |
| Description | Presentation to undergraduate students at the University of Plymouth |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | 70 undergrads attended a lecture on the role of chemistry in marine sciences interest in work placement opportunities |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | SOLAS Sumer School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Sparked questions and discussions, training of the next generation of scientists and policy makers requests for further information, further discussions, improved links/interactions between UK and scientists from both developed and developing countries |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2011,2013 |
| URL | http://www.solas-int.org/summerschool/welcome.html |
| Description | Schools Talks |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Gave a three talks and ran a series of practical experiments to Yr 9 students at a local secondary school requests for further information and for work experience at PML |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |