Review of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Plan (2013) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction
1 Introduction
Pages 7-14
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. By absorbing a substantial share of the CO2 released through such human activities as fossil fuel combustion, cement production and land-use change, the ocean plays a critical role in moderating human-induced climate change.
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It is important to differentiate between pH reduction due to natural processes like volcanic activity and sea floor CO2 venting and acidification due to anthropogenic activities that result in rapid increases in atmospheric CO2 levels. The Committee adopts the definition of Field et al.
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If atmospheric carbon dioxide rises slowly, ocean pH and carbonate ion levels will remain relatively stable due to dissolution of existing calcium carbonate deposits in the ocean (1,000s+ of years) , weathering of terrestrial rock (100,000s+ of years)
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Early studies focused primarily on the many organisms that build shells and skeletons of calcium carbonate, such as reef-building corals and the small calcareous phytoplankton that lie at the base of the marine food web. Recent studies now illustrate that the biological impacts of ocean acidification go far beyond calcification processes and also include photosynthesis, respiration, nutrient acquisition, behavior, growth, reproduction, and survival per se (Gattuso et al., 2011)
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Nonetheless, economically important natural resources may already be affected by ocean acidification resulting from upwelling events and, to a lesser extent, from increases in dissolved atmospheric CO2. For example, the Pacific Northwest Aquaculture industry, which is estimated to contribute approximately 270 million dollars per year and 3,200 jobs to local coastal communities, has recently experienced major failures in its oyster hatcheries due to effects of upwelling of low pH seawater on oyster larvae (Washington State Blue Ribbon Panel, 2012)
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Only a broad and closely coordinated research and monitoring program supported by multiple federal agencies and that interacts effectively with relevant international programs will be able to deal with these complex and interacting facets of ocean acidification in a comprehensive and costeffective manner. 1.1 POLICY CONTEXT Congress recognized the potential seriousness of the ocean acidification issue several years ago and mandated that the issue receive sufficient study to enable the development of an effective research and monitoring program.
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The creation of the Strategic Plan for Federal Research and Monitoring of Ocean Acidification, following the mandates of the FOARAM Act, represents an important next step forward in the development of a comprehensive, integrated, and cost-effective program for examining the diverse facets of ocean acidification. 1.2 THE COMMITTEE'S TASK As indicated in the previous section, our committee was asked to review the IWGOA Strategic Plan for Federal Research and Monitoring on Ocean Acidification based on the Program Elements described in the FOARAM Act of 2009 and the advice provided to the IWGOA through the 2010 NRC report, Ocean Acidification: A National Strategy to Meet the Challenges of a Changing Ocean.
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During its review, the committee identified several common issues that arose across most, if not all, of the Themes of the Strategic Plan. These issues include the establishment of a National Ocean Acidification Program Office, the prioritization of research and monitoring efforts, and the development of metrics for evaluating the success of the different programs.
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