Ocean Acidification Impacts on Sea-Surface Biology, Biogeochemistry and Climate
Lead Research Organisation:
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Department Name: Plymouth Marine Lab
Abstract
See lead proposal
Publications
Hopkins F
(2020)
A meta-analysis of microcosm experiments shows that dimethyl sulfide (DMS) production in polar waters is insensitive to ocean acidification
in Biogeosciences
Rees A
(2021)
Biological nitrous oxide consumption in oxygenated waters of the high latitude Atlantic Ocean
in Communications Earth & Environment
Flynn K
(2012)
Changes in pH at the exterior surface of plankton with ocean acidification
in Nature Climate Change
Archer S
(2013)
Contrasting responses of DMS and DMSP to ocean acidification in Arctic waters
in Biogeosciences
Rérolle V
(2014)
Controls on pH in surface waters of northwestern European shelf seas
Avgoustidi V
(2012)
Decreased marine dimethyl sulfide production under elevated CO2 levels in mesocosm and in vitro studies
in Environmental Chemistry
| Description | Changes in the pH of seawater are likely to have both direct and indirect impacts on marine chemistry, marine biology and on the ability of the oceans to take up anthropogenic carbon dioxide. We have focused our research in this project on the production of climate active gases by the ocean and how the production of these gases might respond to ocean acidification. We found that the marine production of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, might decline in the polar oceans in response to increasing acidification. This might help offset the impact of rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. There was no clear effect on the cycling of nitrogen in polar waters. There was no clear effect of increasing CO2 on the surface production of N2O in UK shelf waters. We found that concentrations of DMS increased in UK shelf sea waters in response to ocean acidification. This was the opposite of what we had seen in experiments off Norway and in the Arctic. A increase in the flux of DMS to atmosphere, if replicated in the remote oceans might lead to an increase in atmospheric aerosol and hence an increase in cloud cover. |
| Exploitation Route | Findings should be used in regional and global modelling studies to assess how emissions of climate active gases might amplify or reduce the impact of rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere |
| Sectors | Education,Environment |
| Description | Results feed into the IPCC reports and hence to governments and policy makers. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
| Sector | Environment |
| Title | N-cycling in the Acrtic and Antarctic regions |
| Description | Two research cruises was undertaken in the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans to investigate how the microbial community may respond to the global warming related phenomena of Ocean Acidification. The way in which nitrogen is recycled within the surface ocean was investigated, including the impact on green-house gas production. This data will contribute to the wider understanding of how the ocean-atmosphere interactions are modified by climate change and what the effect will be on the foundation of marine food webs. This information will contribute to the development of global modelling efforts, ultimately informing environmental management, policy development and mitigation strategies. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | papers |
| Title | N-cycling in the UK Shelf sea |
| Description | A research cruise was undertaken in the UK Shelf Sea to investigate how the microbial community may respond to the Global warming related phenomena of Ocean Acidification. The way in which nitrogen is recycled within the surface ocean was investigated, including the impact on green-house gas production. This data will contribute to the wider understanding of how the ocean-atmosphere interactions are modified by climate change and what the effect will be on the foundation of marine food webs. This information will contribute to the development of global modelling efforts, ultimately informing environmental management, policy development and mitigation strategies. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2012 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Papers |
| Title | N2O during Arctic and Antarctic ocean acidification experiments |
| Description | Impact of Ocean acidification on the production of N2O during 48 hour incubation experiments |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Publication: Rees, A.P., Brown, I.J., Jayakumar, A. and Ward, B.B. (2015) The inhibition of N2O production by ocean acidification in cold temperate and polar waters. Deep-Sea Res.II http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2015.12.006i |
| Title | Nitrous oxide under natural and OA conditions of CO2 |
| Description | A research cruise was undertaken in the UK Shelf Sea to investigate how the microbial community may respond to the Global warming related phenomena of Ocean Acidification. The way in which nitrogen is recycled within the surface ocean was investigated, including the impact on green-house gas production. This data will contribute to the wider understanding of how the ocean-atmosphere interactions are modified by climate change and what the effect will be on the foundation of marine food webs. This information will contribute to the development of global modelling efforts, ultimately informing environmental management, policy development and mitigation strategies. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2012 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Papers |
| Title | Published dataset: Ocean acidification impacts on sea surface biology and biogeochemistry in Northwest European Shelf Seas: a high-replicated shipboard approach. |
| Description | The goal of this study was to quantitatively investigate the links between changes in the ocean carbonate system and organism physiology and morphometry (including CaCO3 shells), biogeochemical rates, plankton biodiversity and community structure, food webs and climate-relevant processes. For that purpose we devised and implemented a series of highly replicated (n=8), short term (2-4 days) multi-level (>=4 conditions) carbonate chemistry (E1-E5)/nutrient manipulation (E2b, E3b and E5b) experiments on a range of natural microbial communities sampled in the surface mixed layer (<20 m) of Northwest European shelf seas. The cruise was conducted at a time of year with enhanced biological productivity and coccolithophore abundance (June/July 2011; PSO Achterberg). The cruise covered areas of different pH, seasonally stratified and perennially mixed seas, areas of coccolithophore abundance and absence, and areas (e.g. eastern North Sea, influence of Baltic inflow) where low alkalinity decouples CaCO3 from sea surface temperature. The experiments were performed within a purpose-built experimental laboratory container allowing acute temperature and light control. The temperature in the container was set up to match the in situ at the time of the water collection. The light (100 µE m-2 s-1) was provided by LED panels and followed a 16/8 h L/D cycle. In order to provide enough water to measure the multiples variables in triplicate, 9 bottles were dedicated to each time point. A total of 72 bottles were used for each bioassay. The additional bioassays (E2b, E4b and E5b) were run in triplicates for 2 days with a unique sampling point at the end of the incubation. This study provided up to 39 variables measured in each main bioassay. This work constitutes a UK contribution that complements existing/planned international OA research. To our knowledge this study represents the first attempt to link pelagic ocean carbonate system variations with sea-surface biology, biogeochemical rates and climate processes in such a comprehensive manner. Up to 18 scientists from 4 UK institutions (University of Southampton, University of Essex, PML and UCL) were involved in this team effort as part of the Sea Surface Consortium of the UK Ocean Acidification Research Program (UKOA). S Richier, EP Achterberg, SD Archer, L Bretherton, I Brown, D Clark, C Dumousseaud, RJ Holland, FE Hopkins, GA MacGilchrist, CM Moore, A Poulton, A Rees, T Shi, M Stinchcombe, D Suggett, MV Zubkov, J Young, T Tyrrell (2014) Ocean acidification impacts on sea surface biology and biogeochemistry in Northwest European Shelf Seas: a high-replicated shipboard approach. British Oceanographic Data Centre - Natural Environment Research Council, UK. doi:10/s8r. PML contributed measurements of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and dimethyl sulphoniopropionate (DMSP) to this dataset. PML also contributed changes in nitrous oxide concentrations and rates of inorganic nitrogen regeneration. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2012 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The generation of this data set resulted in 2 publications from PML. |
| URL | https://www.bodc.ac.uk/data/published_data_library/catalogue/10.5285/f44043b2-b9f0-71f2-e044-000b5de... |
| Title | Published dataset: UK Ocean Acidification programme D366 cruise around the British Isles CTD bottle sample measurements |
| Description | M Ribas Ribas, EP Achterberg, SD Archer, D Bakker, D Clark, FE Hopkins, CM Moore, HE Lawson, G Lee, M Palmer, A Poulton, S Richier, T Shi, M Stinchcombe, D Suggett, T Tyrrell, J Young (2014) UK Ocean Acidification programme D366 cruise around the British Isles CTD bottle sample measurements. British Oceanographic Data Centre - Natural Environment Research Council, UK. doi:10/thr. PML contributed CTD bottle measurements of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) to this dataset. PML also contributed measurements of nitrous oxide concentration and the rates of inorganic nitrogen assimilation and regeneration. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Resulted in 2 publications. |
| Title | Response of DMS and DMSP to ocean acidification in the polar regions |
| Description | Two research cruises were undertaken in the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans to investigate the response of surface ocean microbial communities to ocean acidification. Through a series of shipboard community bioassay experiments, we assessed the response of the concentrations of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and its algal precursor dimethyl sulphoniopropionate (DMSP) to OA in these vulnerable polar waters. This data will contribute to the wider understanding of how the ocean-atmosphere interactions are modified by anthropogenically-induced changes to the environment. This information will contribute to the development of global modelling efforts, ultimately informing environmental management, policy development and mitigation strategies. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Will result in a publication reporting the results of the UKOA Arctic and Southern Ocean cruise datasets. |
| Description | Collaboration with Princeton University |
| Organisation | Princeton University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Experimental investigation of the impact of ocean acidification on nitrogen biogeochemistry and nitrous oxide production |
| Collaborator Contribution | Molecular characterisation of nitrifying communities and statistical interpretation of the impact of ocean acidification on these communities |
| Impact | Manuscript in preparation |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | GESAMP 44 side event, WMO Geneva, Switzerland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Frances Hopkins gave an invited presentation at the 44th Annual Meeting of UN-GESAMP in Geneva, Switzerland. The session was titled: CO2 in the atmosphere-ocean system: impacts and feedbacks, and the talk title was: changing ocean acidity as a modulator of atmospheric biogeochemistry and climate. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | GESAMP WG 38 Impact of OA on fluxes of non-CO2 climate active species |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Working group off experts to initiate publications relating to trace gases and their impact by ocean acidification and multiple stressors |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | GESAMP WG 38 workshop, Impact of ocean acidification on fluxes of non-CO2 climate-active species |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This workshop focused on the impacts of ocean acidification on the oceanic sources of a range of non-CO2 gaseous species as well as aerosol precursors that are influential in regulating radiative forcing, atmospheric oxidizing capacity and atmospheric chemistry. Participants included international scientists working in this field of research. The workshop has the following Terms of Reference: 1. Review and synthesize the current science on the direct impacts of ocean acidification on marine production and emissions to the atmosphere of key species important for climate and atmospheric chemistry. 2. Identify the primary needs for new research to improve process understanding and to quantify the impact of ocean acidification on these marine fluxes (i.e., provide recommendations on the specific laboratory process studies, field measurements and model analyses needed to support targeted research activities and improved understanding on this topic). 3. Publish the results of this activity in the open peer-reviewed scientific literature. 4. Provide input to and interact with national and international research programs on ocean acidification (e.g., UKOA, NOAA-OAP) and with relevant WMO programs (e.g., Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW)) to build on their recent relevant activity in achieving the above objectives. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Presentation to Local Womens Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Gave presentation on NERC funded research to approx. 20 members of a local womens group. Questions and discussion followed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Presentation to students at the University of Exeter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Lecture to Geography BSc students at the University of Exeter's Penryn campus on marine trace gases and their role in atmospheric chemistry and climate. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| 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 | Royal Society for Chemistry; Chemistry at Work; event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Outreach and knowledge exchange activity: Devised, organised and ran an Ocean Acidifcation workshop for 14/15 year olds as part of a Royal Society for Chemistry;Chemistry at Work event, held at the Marine Academy (Plymouth). The workshop was run five times over the course of one day, and involved the participation of ~150 students. School requested a further visit to their Science Club. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Royal Society lecture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 2-day public meeting was attended by nearly 200 people and was a full programme of presentations from world-leading experts and well as discussions and networking sessions, all themed around the progress of OA research over the last 6 years, the impact OA is likely to have on the environment and society and future plans for further OA studies |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.oceanacidification.org.uk/Latest_News/Royal_Society |
| Description | SOLAS Open Science Conference (Germany) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Participation in working group on N2O and CH4 time series and presentation of poster: The inhibition of N2O production by ocean acidification in cold temperate and polar waters. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| 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 |