EAGER: Initiation of a pH/pCO2-sensing mooring platform on the Oregon coast

海洋酸化（OA）是指随着大气中二氧化碳（CO2）溶解在海水中，海洋pH值逐渐下降，这是一个迫在眉睫的问题，其影响尚不确定，但可能会破坏海洋生态系统。该项目将部署精确的原位传感器，开始开发俄勒冈州中部海岸的pH值和二氧化碳分压时间序列，该地区受加州洋流系统中腐蚀性上升流的影响最大。这些传感器与低频船载校准以及水平和垂直样品相结合，将提供一个详细和综合的视角，以了解沿海内大陆架生态系统中加速的生物地球化学变化的范围和影响，目前尚未监测到碳酸盐化学变化。知识价值：上升流地区的沿海水域将经历一些最早和最严重的海洋酸化。有限的实地调查已经表明，在夏季上升流季节，加州洋流系统（CCS）的部分地区正在经历低pH值条件。确定海洋酸化对海洋钙化物和其他pH值或co2分压敏感生物的直接和间接影响，关键取决于对当前OA胁迫机制和未来生物地球化学变化可能范围的准确评估。迄今为止，我们在上升流陆架内部水域几乎没有这样的时间序列，在那里，人为和呼吸源的二氧化碳增加的综合负担是最大的。这种观测差距严重阻碍了对全球气候变化的这一主要后果及其生态后果的研究取得进展。这主要是由于缺乏准确可靠的传感器，无法在大陆架内部水域部署。最近，pH和pCO2传感器已经开发出来，能够提供所需的精度，精度和可靠性，这些仪器需要部署在具有挑战性和动态的内架环境中。对于生物地球化学信号在空间上是异质的系统，开发时间序列数据的一个重要标准是能够解决具有生态重要性和/或对控制潜在混叠效应至关重要的空间变化。OSU-PISCO（俄勒冈州立大学，沿海海洋跨学科研究伙伴关系）已经获得了一个传感器阵列的资金，并将于2009年7月将该阵列部署在一个系泊处，开始在北部CCS的内大陆架水域进行第一个pH和二氧化碳分压时间序列。该EAGER项目将允许部署第二个传感器阵列。该项目有三个目标：记录两个沿海地点之间pH值和co2分压的空间差异，为生物和生态影响研究提供一个对比监测地点，以及在第一个仪器丢失或失效的情况下提供一个区域“后备”地点。俄勒冈州扩大的区域传感器阵列将与Bodega海洋实验室和南加州的阵列相连，形成我们预期的西海岸海洋酸化传感器网络的第一阶段。这些将提供第一批数据集，用于建立研究海洋酸化的生态后果所必需的背景环境信息。更广泛的影响：海洋酸化是一个及时而重要的问题，科学家、经济学家、决策者、管理者和公众需要立即协调一致地关注这一问题。为了解释和评价OA对海洋生物群影响的实验室和实地研究，准确的pH值和自然环境变化数据是必不可少的。该项目将通过在有强烈上升流的关键位置增加另一个观测点，对该地区的研究能力建设产生重大影响。该站点将加入到加州洋流系统的其他监测和研究站点网络中。有关该项目的信息将通过PISCO政策计划和pi及其同事的指导活动进行教育和推广活动。

Ocean acidification (OA), the progressive decrease in ocean pH as atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolves in sea water, is a looming issue with impacts that are still uncertain, but may disrupt ocean ecosystems. This project will deploy accurate and precise in-situ sensors that will begin the development of pH and pCO2 time series off the central Oregon coast - a region that is amongst the mostly strongly impacted by corrosive upwelled waters within the California Current system. These sensors, in conjunction with lower-frequency ship-based calibration as well as horizontal and vertical samples, will provide a detailed and integrated look at the scope and impacts of accelerated biogeochemical changes in a coastal inner-shelf ecosystem that is currently unmonitored for carbonate chemistry shifts. Intellectual Merit: Coastal waters in upwelling regions will experience some of the earliest and most severe onsets of ocean acidification. Already, limited field surveys suggest that the portions of the California Current system (CCS) are experiencing low pH conditions during the summer upwelling season. Determination of the direct and indirect impact of ocean acidification on marine calcifiers and other pH or pCO2 sensitive organisms depends critically on accurate assessments of both current OA stress regimes and the likely scope of future biogeochemical change. To date, we have virtually no such time series in the inner-shelf waters of upwelling shelves where the combined burdens of CO2 increase from anthropogenic and respiratory sources are maximal. This observational gap is a severe impediment to progress in the study of this major consequence of global climate change and its ecological consequences. This is due largely to the lack of accurate and reliable sensors that can be deployed in the field in inner shelf waters. Recently, sensors for pH and pCO2 have been developed that are capable of providing the required accuracy, precision and reliability needed in instruments deployed in the challenging and dynamic environments of the inner shelf. For systems where biogeochemical signals are spatially heterogeneous, an important criterion for developing time series data is the ability to resolve spatial variations that are ecologically important and/or crucial for controlling for potential aliasing effects. OSU-PISCO (Oregon State University, Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans) has acquired funds for one sensor array, and in July 2009, will deploy the array on a mooring to begin the first pH and pCO2 time series in the inner shelf waters of the northern CCS. This EAGER project will allow deployment of a second sensor array. The project has three goals: documenting spatial differences between pH and pCO2 between the two coastal sites, providing a contrasting monitored site for organismal and ecological impacts studies, and providing a regional "back-up" site in case of loss or failure of the first instruments. The expanded regional sensor array in Oregon will be linked to arrays at Bodega Marine Lab and in southern California to form the first stage of what we expect will be a west coast network of ocean acidification sensors. These will provide the first datasets available for establishing the contextual environmental information necessary for research on the ecological consequences of ocean acidification. Broader Impacts: Ocean acidification is a timely and important concern and there is a need for immediate and concerted focus by scientists, economists, policy-makers, managers and the public. To interpret and evaluate lab and field studies of OA impacts on the marine biota accurate data on pH levels and variability in the natural environment are essential. This project will have a major impact on building research capacity in this area by adding another observation site at a critical location where there is intense upwelling. This site will add to a network of other monitoring and research sites in the California Current system. Information about this project will be communicated via educational and outreach activities through the PISCO policy program and instructional activities of the PIs and colleagues.