Strategic Plan for Federal Research and Monitoring of Ocean Acidification

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Strategic Plan for Federal Research and Monitoring of Ocean Acidification Strategic Plan for Federal Research and Monitoring of Ocean Acidification Prepared by the Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification March 2014 1 Strategic Plan for Federal Research and Monitoring of Ocean Acidification Prepared by Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainability National Science and Technology Council Front cover image: A sunset viewed from Kure Atoll, located near Midway Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Image credit: Robert Schwemmer, NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries. Above image: A sea butterfly (pteropod) shell is shown slowly dissolving over 45 days in seawater with in- creased acidity. Photo credit: David Littschwager/National Geographic Stock. Used with permission. All rights reserved. National Geographic images. Report directed by Section 12404(c) and guided by Section 12405 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 (FOARAM Act) 2 INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP ON OCEAN ACIDIFICATION MEMBERS National Oceanic and Atmospheric National Aeronautics and Space Administration Administration (NASA) Elizabeth Jewett*, Chair Paula Bontempi*, Vice-chair Ned Cyr Kathy Tedesco Richard Feely Kenric Osgood U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Christopher Sabine Bret Wolfe* Krisa Arzayus Steve Gittings U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Lisa Robbins* National Science Foundation Kimberly Yates David Garrison*, Vice-chair U.S. Navy Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, (BOEM) Justine Kimball* Jennifer Culbertson* U.S. Department of Agriculture Department of State Maxwell H. Mayeaux* Kenli Kim* Environmental Protection Agency Jason Grear* Christopher Moore The Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification (IWG-OA) acknowledges past members: Ryan Moyer (formerly with USGS), Mary Boatman (BOEM), Phillip Taylor and Priscilla Viana (formerly with NSF), Todd Capson (formerly with DOS), Katherine Nixon (formerly with U.S. Navy) and Fredric Lipshultz (formerly with NASA), for their contributions to early drafts of the Plan, as well as Gayle Pugh (NSF) for providing substantial editorial input. Carlos Del Castillo (NASA), Mark Fornwall (USGS) and Steven Hankin (NOAA) also contributed to revisions of the Plan. Erin Seney and Jennifer Howard (formerly NOAA) oversaw compilation and revision of the document. Courtney Barry (NOAA) contributed design and layout of the document. * Lead member from each agency. Members listed as of March 2014. 3 Dear Partners and Friends in our ocean and coastal community, Oceans provide vital resources and services for sustaining humankind including food, recreation, transportation, energy, nutrient cycling and climate moderation, and they substantially contribute to our economy. However, the chemistry of the oceans is changing in ways that will have impacts on these services and resources far into the future. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive interagency plan to address the increasing impacts of ocean acidification, Congress passed the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 (FOARAM Act), which defines ocean acidification as “the decrease in pH of the Earth’s oceans and changes in ocean chemistry caused by chemical inputs from the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide.” Coastal and estuarine acidification, to the extent that the cause of the acidification can be traced back to anthropogenic atmospheric inputs to the ocean, are assumed to be covered by this Strategic Plan for Federal Research and Monitoring of Ocean Acidification (Strategic Plan) wherever ocean acidification is referenced. The FOARAM Act called for the Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (SOST) to establish an Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification (IWG-OA). The Act also explicitly called for developing a strategic research plan to guide “Federal research and monitoring on ocean acidification that will provide for an assessment of the impacts of ocean acidification on marine organisms and marine ecosystems and the development of adaption and mitigation strategies to conserve marine organisms and marine ecosystems.” Per requirements of the FOARAM, the original draft plan was open for public comment for two months and also was reviewed by the National Research Council. Edits to this plan were made to address comments that were received. Details about editing decisions are available upon request. The IWG-OA was chartered in October 2009. These agencies have come together to provide a thoughtful, strategic approach to understand and address the rapidly emerging problem of ocean acidification. This plan is essential to guide federal ocean acidification investments and activities over the next decade and beyond. It will provide a better understanding of the process of ocean acidification, its effects on marine ecosystems, and the steps that must be taken to minimize harm from ocean acidification. We organized the plan around the following seven priority areas 1) research, 2) monitoring, 3) modeling, 4) technology development, 5) socioeconomic impacts, 6) education and outreach and 7) data management. This plan is the result of a collaborative, thoughtful, and dedicated effort by a large number of people. My thanks goes out to all who contributed to this plan. Sincerely, Elizabeth Jewett Chair of the IWG-OA Ned Cyr Former Chair of the IWG-OA 4 Table of Contents Executive Summary 6 Legislative Mandate 8 National Ocean Policy 8 Introduction and Background 10 Vision 11 Theme 1. Research to Understand Responses to 18 Ocean Acidification Theme 2. Monitoring of Ocean Chemistry and 28 Biological Impacts Theme 3. Modeling to Predict Changes in the Ocean 36 Carbon Cycle and Impacts on Marine Ecosystems and Organisms Theme 4. Technology Development and 42 Standardization of Measurements Theme 5. Assessment of Socioeconomic Impacts 50 and Development of Strategies to Conserve Marine Organisms and Ecosystems Theme 6. Education, Outreach, and Engagement 56 Strategy on Ocean Acidification Theme 7. Data Management and Integration 62 Appendix 1. Agency Programs Involved in Ocean 74 Acidification Research Appendix 2. Agency Budget Estimates by Theme 78 Appendix 3. Acronyms and Abbreviations 79 Appendix 4. Informational Websites 83 Appendix 5. Glossary 85 5 Executive Summary Oceans provide vital resources and services for sustaining humankind including food, recreation, transportation, energy, nutrient-cycling, and climate moderation, and they substantially contribute to the economy. However, the chemistry of the oceans is changing in ways that will have impacts on these services and resources. Several federal agencies are working towards developing a collective approach to understand and address this rapidly emerging problem, commonly referred to as ocean acidification. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive interagency plan to address the increasing impacts of ocean acidification, Congress passed the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 (FOARAM Act), which defines ocean acidification as “the decrease in pH of the Earth’s oceans and changes in ocean chemistry caused by chemical inputs from the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide.” Coastal and estuarine acidification, to the extent that the cause of the acidification can be traced back to anthropogenic atmospheric inputs to the ocean, are assumed to be covered by this Strategic Plan for Federal Research and Monitoring of Ocean Acidification (Strategic Plan) wherever ocean acidification is referenced. To further clarify, anthropogenic effects on land- based runoff can drive respiration-induced acidification that likely exacerbates chemical changes caused by atmospheric CO2 loading. The FOARAM Act calls on the Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (SOST) to establish an Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification (IWG-OA). The Act also explicitly calls for developing a strategic research plan to guide “Federal research and monitoring on ocean acidification that will provide for an assessment of the impacts of ocean acidification on marine organisms and marine ecosystems and the development of adaption and mitigation strategies to conserve marine organisms and marine ecosystems.” The IWG-OA was chartered in October 2009 and comprises representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Science Foundation (NSF), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), U.S. Department of State (DOS), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the U.S. Navy. The IWG-OA is chaired by NOAA and co-vice chaired by NSF and NASA. The IWG-OA is guided by the following vision: “A nation, globally engaged and guided by science, sustaining healthy marine and coastal ecosystems, communities, and economies through informed responses to ocean acidification.” This vision reflects the intention that U.S. ocean-acidification efforts be societally relevant and to be based on the best available information and science. In preparing this Strategic Plan, the IWG-OA focused on seven priority themes identified in the FOARAM Act. The themes include the five Program Elements set forth as the minimum requirements for the plan and two additional elements required for successful implementation. Although activities are separated into themes, most of the work conducted will bridge themes to create a unified whole. Throughout
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