The Associated Press
SEATTLE — A new research tool launched last week by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is allowing scientists to better track changes in ocean chemistry along the U.S. West Coast.
The tool provides real-time ocean acidification data along the coast and in some protected bays.
It captures data from a couple of dozen sensors installed at Taylor Shellfish Hatchery in Sheldon and other monitoring sites in Oregon, California, Alaska and Hawaii.
University of Washington oceanographer Jan Newton, who led the collaborative effort, said the information can help shellfish growers make crucial decisions about when and how to grow shellfish.
“That’s a really big thing, to enable shellfish growers to have better information so they can adapt to ocean acidification,” Newton said.
The website data tool also serves as an early warning system about ocean acidification.
Acidification is caused when oceans absorb carbon-dioxide emissions, mostly from the atmosphere, which change seawater chemistry in a way that makes it difficult for many marine organisms to form their shells.
The data signals the approach of cold, acidified seawater one to two days before it arrives in the sensitive coastal waters where shellfish larvae are cultivated, according to NOAA on its website at www.noaa.gov.
“The data help hatchery managers schedule production when water quality is good, anticipate the need to buffer or adjust the chemistry of the water coming into their hatcheries, and avoid wasting valuable energy and other resources if water quality is poor,” the website says.
“That’s really powerful,” Newton said, adding that federal, tribal and state governments, private companies, nonprofit organizations and others have combined forces to monitor ocean acidification.
The data, ranging from carbon dioxide concentrations to salinity and water temperatures can be found through the IOOS (Integrated Ocean Observing System) Pacific Region Ocean Acidification Data Portal, which began operations this month.
For more information, visit www.ipacoa.org.
