Ocean acidification in the Distributed Biological Observatory, 2017-2019

Abstract:

Ocean acidification (OA), driven by rising anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO₂), is rapidly advancing in the Pacific Arctic Region (PAR), producing conditions newly corrosive to biologically important carbonate minerals like aragonite. Naturally short linkages across the PAR food web highlighted by the Distributed Biological Observatory (DBO) array mean that species-specific acidification stress can be rapidly transmitted across multiple trophic levels, resulting in widespread impacts. Here, we present new data from 2017 - 2019, collected with both novel autonomous systems and traditional ship-based methods. This data shows the formation of corrosive conditions in colder, denser winter-modified Pacific waters over shallow shelves, resulting from the combination of seasonal terrestrial and marine organic matter respiration with anthropogenic CO₂. While biological impacts from this recent acidification remain unclear, they could have detrimental effects on ecosystems already undergoing substantial environmental pressure from other forms of global climate change. In order to support the management and sustainability of the fisheries in the PAR, it will be critical to continue to monitor global emissions and the rate of OA in the Arctic.