| Contributors | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Cordes, Erik E. | Temple University (Temple) | Principal Investigator, Contact |
| Kulathinal, Robert J. | Temple University (Temple) | Co-Principal Investigator |
| Ake, Hannah | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI BCO-DMO) | BCO-DMO Data Manager |
Water samples from CTD casts and vehicle-mounted bottles collected on the Atlantis, GOMRI, Nautilus, Ronald Brown, and Schmidt between 2010 and 2014.
pH was measured on the total hydrogen scale (pHT) within one hour of sample collection. Each water sample was placed in a 25 degrees C water bath for 10–20 minutes to standardize temperature (mean temperature over all pH measurements of 22.2 +/- 2.6 degrees C). pHT was then measured in duplicate using the Orion 5 Star pH meter and glass electrode (ROSS Ultra pH/ATC Triode 8107BNUMD) calibrated with Tris–HCL buffer solution obtained from the Dickson Lab (Batch 22). Electrode performance was regularly checked against standard Tris-HCl and AMP-HCl buffers in artificial seawater (Nemzer et al. 2005; Dickson et al. 2007). Temperature was measured using the integrated temperature sensor on the ROSS Ultra pH/ATC Triode from 2010–2013, and using a handheld thermocouple (Omega HH81A) in 2014. Total alkalinity (TA) was measured in triplicate by acid titration on a Mettler–Toledo DL15 autotitrator using 0.1 mol L–1 HCl buffered in 0.6 mol L–1 NaCl (modified from SOP 3b, Dickson et al. 2007). The autotitrator was calibrated daily on the NBS scale using certified reference buffers (Orion), and certified reference materials (Dickson Lab, batches 138 and 141) were measured periodically to ensure accuracy (within +/- 10 umol kg-1).
CO2SYS software (Pierrot et al. 2006) was used to correct pHT values for in situ temperature and pressure, and to calculate the entire carbonate system from TA, pHT, temperature, salinity, and pressure. For all calculations, we used the carbonic acid constants (K1 and K2) of Mehrbach et al. (1973) refitted by Dickson and Millero (1987), and the aragonite solubility product (Ksp) from Mucci (1983). The effects of nutrients (phosphate and silicate) on the carbonate system were assumed to be negligible (eg. Cai 2003; Yates and Halley 2006). TA and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) values were corrected for in situ salinity values using the mean salinity of all sites (35.3 psu) to yield salinity-normalized TA (nTA) and DIC (nDIC).
BCO-DMO Processing Notes:
-Column names reformatted to comply with BCO-DMO standards
-Entered "nd" into blank cells
-Created a separate column for official cruise identification in addition to the PI supplied cruise name
| File |
|---|
carbonate_data.csv (Comma Separated Values (.csv), 69.86 KB) MD5:a438600a1bde2e461f14a420b63aac7a Primary data file for dataset ID 658946 |
| Parameter | Description | Units |
| cruise_name | Project investigator's cruise name | unitless |
| instrument | Instrument used to collect water samples; V (vehicle-mounted bottle) or CTD | unitless |
| measurement_location | Location where water sample was taken; WC= water column or B= bottom | unitless |
| sample_ID | Sample ID number | unitless |
| year | Year of sample; YYYY | unitless |
| lat | Latitude | decimal degrees |
| lon | Longitude | decimal degrees |
| site | Site code where sample was taken; see lat/lons for exact location. | unitless |
| depth | Depth at which sample was taken | meters |
| salinity | Salinity of water sample | practical salinity units (PSU) |
| pressure | Pressure at depth | decibar (dbar) |
| temperature | Temperature at depth | celsius |
| measured_temp | Temperature of sample after being standardized in 25 degree celsius water bath for 10-20 minutes. | celsius |
| input_pH | pH measurement of sample (total scale) | total pH scale |
| TA | Total alkalinity of sample | micromoles per killigram (umol/kg) |
| nTA | Salinity normalized total alkalinity | micromoles per killigram (umol/kg) |
| pHT | pH measured on the total hydrogen scale | total pH scale |
| omega_aragonite | saturation state of aragonite | unitless |
| DIC | Dissolved inorganic carbon values | micromoles per killigram (umol/kg) |
| pCO2 | Carbond dioxide concentration | microatomospheres (uatm) |
| revelle_factor | A measure inversely proportional to the capacity for seawater to absorb atmospheric CO2 | unitless |
| bicarbonate_ion | Bicarbonate ion concentration | micromoles per killigram (umol/kg) |
| carbonate_ion | Carbonate ion concentration | micromoles per killigram (umol/kg) |
| TA_DIC | Total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon ratio | unitless |
| comments | Comments | unitless |
| cruise_id | Official cruise identification | unitless |
| month | Month of sampling; MM | unitless |
| day | Day of sampling; DD |
| Dataset-specific Instrument Name | CTD |
| Generic Instrument Name | CTD - profiler |
| Dataset-specific Description | Water samples taken from CTD casts |
| Generic Instrument Description | The Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) unit is an integrated instrument package designed to measure the conductivity, temperature, and pressure (depth) of the water column. The instrument is lowered via cable through the water column. It permits scientists to observe the physical properties in real-time via a conducting cable, which is typically connected to a CTD to a deck unit and computer on a ship. The CTD is often configured with additional optional sensors including fluorometers, transmissometers and/or radiometers. It is often combined with a Rosette of water sampling bottles (e.g. Niskin, GO-FLO) for collecting discrete water samples during the cast.
This term applies to profiling CTDs. For fixed CTDs, see https://www.bco-dmo.org/instrument/869934. |
| Dataset-specific Instrument Name | Temperature sensor |
| Generic Instrument Name | Water Temperature Sensor |
| Dataset-specific Description | Sensor that measured water temperature |
| Generic Instrument Description | General term for an instrument that measures the temperature of the water with which it is in contact (thermometer). |
| Dataset-specific Instrument Name | Orion 5 Star pH themeter |
| Generic Instrument Name | pH Sensor |
| Dataset-specific Description | pHT was measured using this instrument |
| Generic Instrument Description | An instrument that measures the hydrogen ion activity in solutions.
The overall concentration of hydrogen ions is inversely related to its pH. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14 and indicates whether acidic (more H+) or basic (less H+). |
| Dataset-specific Instrument Name | Mettler-Toledo EL15 autotitrator |
| Generic Instrument Name | Automatic titrator |
| Dataset-specific Description | Measured total alkalinity |
| Generic Instrument Description | Instruments that incrementally add quantified aliquots of a reagent to a sample until the end-point of a chemical reaction is reached. |
| Dataset-specific Instrument Name | Aquarium |
| Generic Instrument Name | Aquarium |
| Dataset-specific Description | Experiments conducted using aquaria |
| Generic Instrument Description | Aquarium - a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept |
| Dataset-specific Instrument Name | Vehicle mounted bottle |
| Generic Instrument Name | Bottle |
| Dataset-specific Description | Water samples collected by vehicle-mounted bottle |
| Generic Instrument Description | A container, typically made of glass or plastic and with a narrow neck, used for storing drinks or other liquids. |
| Website | |
| Platform | R/V Atlantis |
| Start Date | 2014-04-27 |
| End Date | 2014-05-16 |
| Website | |
| Platform | NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown |
| Start Date | 2010-10-14 |
| End Date | 2010-11-04 |
| Website | |
| Platform | E/V Nautilus |
| Report | |
| Start Date | 2013-06-21 |
| End Date | 2013-07-05 |
| Website | |
| Platform | R/V Falkor |
| Report | |
| Start Date | 2012-08-27 |
| End Date | 2012-09-01 |
The Gulf of Mexico deep water ecosystems are threatened by the persistent threat of ocean acidification. Deep-water corals will be among the first to feel the effects of this process, in particular the deep-water scleractinians that form their skeleton from aragonite. The continued shoaling of the aragonite saturation horizon (the depth below which aragonite is undersaturated) will place many of the known, and as yet undiscovered, deep-water corals at risk in the very near future. The most common deep-water framework-forming scleractinian in the world's oceans is Lophelia pertusa. This coral is most abundant in the North Atlantic, where aragonite saturation states are relatively high, but it also creates extensive reef structures between 300 and 600 m depth in the Gulf of Mexico where aragonite saturation states were previously unknown. Preliminary data indicate that pH at this depth range is between 7.85 and 8.03, and the aragonite saturation state is typically between 1.28 and 1.69. These are the first measurements of aragonite saturation state for the deep Gulf of Mexico, and are among the lowest Aragonite saturation state yet recorded for framework-forming corals in any body of water, at any depth.
This project will examine the effects of ocean acidification on L. pertusa, combining laboratory experiments, rigorous oceanographic measurements, the latest genome and transcriptome sequencing platforms, and quantitative PCR and enzyme assays to examine changes in coral gene expression and enzyme activity related to differences in carbonate chemistry. Short-term and long-term laboratory experiments will be performed at Aragonite saturation state of 1.45 and 0.75 and the organismal (e.g., survivorship and calcification rate) and genetic (e.g., transcript abundance) responses of the coral will be monitored. Genomic DNA and RNA will be extracted, total mRNA purified, and comprehensive and quantitative profiles of the transcriptome generated using a combination of 454 and Illumina sequencing technologies. Key genes in the calcification pathways as well as other differentially expressed genes will be targeted for specific qPCR assays to verify the Illumina sequencing results. On a research cruise, L. pertusa will be sampled (preserved at depth) along a natural gradient in carbonate chemistry, and included in the Illumina sequencing and qPCR assays. Water samples will be obtained by submersible-deployed niskin bottles adjacent to the coral collections as well as CTD casts of the water column overlying the sites. Water samples will be analyzed for pH, alkalinity, nitrates and soluble reactive phosphorus. These will be used in combination with historical data in a model to hindcast Aragonite saturation state.
This project will provide new physiological and genetic data on an ecologically-significant and anthropogenically-threatened deepwater coral in the Gulf of Mexico. An experimental system, already developed by the PIs, offers controlled conditions to test the effect of Aragonite saturation state on calcification rates in scleractinians and, subsequently, to identify candidate genes and pathways involved in the response to reduced pH and Aragonite saturation state. Both long-term and population sampling experiments will provide additional transcriptomic data and specifically investigate the expression of the candidate genes. These results will contribute to our understanding of the means by which scleractinians may acclimate and acclimatize to low pH, alkalinity, and Aragonite saturation state. Furthermore, the investigators will continue a time series of oceanographic measurements of the carbonate system in the Gulf of Mexico, which will allow the inclusion of this significant body of water in models of past and future ocean acidification scenarios.
NSF Climate Research Investment (CRI) activities that were initiated in 2010 are now included under Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability NSF-Wide Investment (SEES). SEES is a portfolio of activities that highlights NSF's unique role in helping society address the challenge(s) of achieving sustainability. Detailed information about the SEES program is available from NSF (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504707).
In recognition of the need for basic research concerning the nature, extent and impact of ocean acidification on oceanic environments in the past, present and future, the goal of the SEES: OA program is to understand (a) the chemistry and physical chemistry of ocean acidification; (b) how ocean acidification interacts with processes at the organismal level; and (c) how the earth system history informs our understanding of the effects of ocean acidification on the present day and future ocean.
Solicitations issued under this program:
NSF 10-530, FY 2010-FY2011
NSF 12-500, FY 2012
NSF 12-600, FY 2013
NSF 13-586, FY 2014
NSF 13-586 was the final solicitation that will be released for this program.
PI Meetings:
1st U.S. Ocean Acidification PI Meeting(March 22-24, 2011, Woods Hole, MA)
2nd U.S. Ocean Acidification PI Meeting(Sept. 18-20, 2013, Washington, DC)
3rd U.S. Ocean Acidification PI Meeting (June 9-11, 2015, Woods Hole, MA – Tentative)
NSF media releases for the Ocean Acidification Program:
Press Release 10-186 NSF Awards Grants to Study Effects of Ocean Acidification
Discovery Blue Mussels "Hang On" Along Rocky Shores: For How Long?
Press Release 13-102 World Oceans Month Brings Mixed News for Oysters
| Funding Source | Award |
|---|---|
| NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) |