UNESCO-IOC Sub-Commission for the Western PacificSoutheast Asian Global Ocean Observing System(SEAGOOS)

By Somkiat Khokiattiwong, PhD
Phuket Marine Biological Center, Phuket 83000, Thailand

GEOOS,
11-13 January 2017,Tokyo Japan

When carbon dioxide (CO2) is absorbed by seawater, chemical reactions occur that reduce
seawater pH, carbonate ion concentration, and saturation states of biologically important calcium
carbonate minerals.
Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the pH of surface ocean waters has fallen by 0.1 pH
units. Since the pH scale, like the Richter scale, is logarithmic, this change represents approximately
a 30 percent increase in acidity. Future predictions indicate that the oceans will continue to absorb
carbon dioxide and become even more acidic. Estimates of future carbon dioxide levels, based on
business as usual emission scenarios, indicate that by the end of this century the surface waters of
the ocean could be nearly 150 percent more acidic, resulting in a pH that the oceans haven’t
experienced for more than 20 million years

The photos below show what happens to apteropod’s shell when placed in sea water withpH and carbonate levels projected for the year
2100. The shell slowly dissolves after 45 days.
Photo credit: David Liittschwager/NationalGeographic StockCO2 and pH time series in the North Pacific Ocean. Adapted fromFeely (2008)

Ocean Acidification: Fundamental Chemistry

CO2 + H2 O →+carbondioxide+H2 CO3→ H + HCO

water+



H + CO → HCO+2−carbonicacid3+hydrogenion−
3−hydrogen
3 ion

bicarbonateioncarbonateionbicarbonate
ion• More than 99% of the H+ formed consume CO32- to form HCO3- making it moredifficult for organisms to form their shells.
CO2 is an acid gas so the addition of 22 million tons of carbon dioxide to the ocean
every day is acidifying the seawater…we call this process “ocean acidification”
By Dr. Christopher L. SabineCO2 + H2 O →+carbondioxide→ H+ + HCO3−

H2 CO3

H + CO → HCO+water+2−carbonicacid3+hydrogenion−hydrogen
3 ion

bicarbonateioncarbonateionbicarbonate
ion• More than 99% of the H+ formed consume CO32- to form HCO3- making it moredifficult for organisms to form their shells.

”CO2 is an acid gas so the additionof 22 million tons of carbon
dioxide to the ocean every day is
acidifying the seawater…we callthis process “ocean acidification”
Pelejero et. al. 2010

TARGETS
14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particularfrom land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid
significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and takeaction for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
14.3 Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced
scientific cooperation at all levels
14.4 By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported andunregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based
management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, atleast to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their
biological characteristics
14.5 By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent withnational and international law and based on the best available scientific information

TARGETS
14.6 By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacityand overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported andunregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing thatappropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least
developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries
14.7subsidies
By 2030, negotiation
increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least
developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including throughsustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
14A Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology,
taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines
on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance thecontribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, inparticular small island developing States and least developed countries
14B Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
14C

Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing
international law as reflected in UNCLOS, which provides the legal framework for theconservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraphGlobal Surface pCO2 (LDEO)
Takahashi, T., S.C. Sutherland, and A. Kozyr. 2016. Global Ocean Surface Water Partial Pressure of CO2
Database: Measurements Performed During 1957-2015 (Version 2015). ORNL/CDIAC-160, NDP-088(V2015).
Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, OakRidge, Tennessee, doi: 10.3334/CDIAC/OTG.NDP088(V2015)

Ocean Acidification Monitoring
NOAA Ocean Acidification Monitoring

GAO-ON Net Work

CO2 and pH Monitoring on the north of Bay of Bengal
RAMA Buoy
Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON)

NOAA website

WESTPAC/SEAGOOS Ocean Acidification Programme

OCEAN ACIDIFICATION AND ITS IMPACT TO MARINE ECOSYSTEM(OAIME)

PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES:Improve the understanding, and develop regional capability of research and longterm monitoring on ocean acidification in the Western Pacific and its adjacentregions;
share existing and proposed ocean acidification monitoring and research
approaches, methods, and techniques;establish an ocean acidification monitoring and research network amongscientists, institutions, and agencies in the region;
identify challenges, gaps and explore the possibility, building on existing coral reefmonitoring initiatives, of a joint long-term monitoring program on the impacts ofocean acidification on coral reefs, and of joint research on ocean acidification andits related changes/processes in seawater chemistry in the region.

Expectation of outcome:To establish the standard operational guideline/manual for OA
monitoring in the region
Active participate and implement the OA activities in their countries
and provide sharing information in the region
Cooperation with other partner in the member countries andinternational ocean acidification network such as Global Ocean
Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON) etc.
Searching for long term support and work with partners such as
NOAA, university (in and out the region), and experts

: Research and Monitoring of the Ecological

Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems (19-21
January 2015, Phuket, Thailand): Introduction to OA:
Overview of OA - Overview on Ocean Acidification: what is OA and why dowe care?
Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON)
Why do we need to intensify research and monitoring efforts in the WesternPacific and adjacent regions?
 Country OA report:

: Research and Monitoring of the Ecological

Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems (19-21
January 2015, Phuket, Thailand): Approaches and challenges:
 Monitoring ecological impacts of ocean acidification on Indo-Pacific coralreefs;
 Approaches/challenges to monitoring carbonate chemistry and biology
impacts of coral reef ecosystems;
 Integrating the use of ocean models into observing system design.
 Brainstorming: the way forward: agree in on development of OA in theWESTPAC region with appropriate methodology for Coral Reef Biodiversity(ARM) and carbonate chemistry in seawater monitoring.

: Research and Monitoring of the Ecological

Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems (19-21
January 2015, Phuket, Thailand): 35 participants 4 experts from NOAA
 1 expert from WHOI (USA): Research and Monitoring of the

Ecological Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems(26-28 August 2015, Phuket, Thailand): 30 participants 3 experts (NOAA), 1 expert (Scripps Institute ofOceanography)

: Research and Monitoring of the

Ecological Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems(26-28 August 2015, Phuket, Thailand): Technical Workshop on: Biological processes on the coral reef and carbonate chemistry processes
 Implement of Assembly of Marine Biodiversity (ARM-following NOAAmethod) Carbonate chemistry in seawater analysis; pH by spectrophotometer andTotal Alkalinity (TA) by titration method
 How to use CO2SYS for related carbonate parameter calculation

: Research and Monitoring of theEcological Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems(26-28 August 2015, Phuket, Thailand): Agreement on: Implementation of ARM including monitoring of importance of coral reefparameters
 Monitor pH and TA base on the agreement of standard technique Participants propose pilot sites in the WESTPAC region
 The expert in the region agree to draft the manual for biodiversity monitoringon by ARM method and carbonate chemistry analysis method

Parameter to be Monitored
ParameterName

SamplingMethod

AnalyticalMethodology

FishTransect, Stationary Point Count, etc

NCRMP Plan; CRED SOPFish Biological Monitoring: Abundance, size, biomass

Benthic
Water_TA

Transect, Photoquad
Stratified Random, Diurnal Sampling

NCRMP Plan; CRED SOP

Benthic Biological Monitoring: Includes bleaching, disease, coral
recruitment (size class), macroinvertebrate
Stratified Random Sampling

Water_pCO2

Stratified Random, Diurnal Sampling,
Continuous Sensor

Water_pH
Water_DIC

Stratified Random, Diurnal Sampling,
Continuous Sensor
Stratified Random, Diurnal Sampling

Water_Nutrients

Stratified Random, Diurnal Sampling,
Continuous Sensor

Water_O2
Temperature
Salinity

Stratified Random, Diurnal Sampling,
Continuous Sensor
Temp. Logger
SBE19?

Carbonate Net Accretion

Calcification Accretion UnitCAU SOP

Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) to measure rates ofproduction of calcium carbonate’

Bioerosion Rate

Bioerosion Monitoring UnitBMU SOP

Bioerosion Measurement Units (BMUs) to measure rates ofbioerosion

Cryptobiota diversity

Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structure ARMS SOP

Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) to measurecrytobiota diversity

Coral Growth Rate
Rugosity
Microbial Composition

Description

Spectrophotometric pH,
Electrode

Subsurface Temperature Recorders

Massive coral coring, bouyant weight,bands
CT scan…
Chain?

Coral Cores
Rugosity
Microbial community (patogenic or non-patogenic?) 3

SOPLinkOverall IOC/WESTPAC Technical
Manual Working Group
Total Alkalinity Working
Group
Dr. Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone
Dr. Somkiat Khokiattiwong
Dr. Adrienne Sutton
Prof. Andrew Dickson
Dr. Muhammad Lukman
Prof. Sayedur Rahman Chowdhury

TA Lead
Co-LeadInitiate discussion on regional capacity/equipmentDraft Procedure Ready for Testing: Dec 15, 2015.
Testing Reporting: March 2016?

Spectrophotometric pH Working Group
Dr. Somkiat Khokiattiwong
Dr. Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone
Dr. Adrienne Sutton
Prof. Andrew Dickson
Dr. Muhammad Lukman
Prof. Sayedur Rahman Chowdhury

Spec-pH Lead Draft Procedure Ready for Testing: Dec 15, 2015.
Co-LeadBiology Working Group
Dr. Suchana Apple Chavanich
Dr. Aileen Tan Shau Hwai
NOAA CRED
Prof. M. Shahadat Hossain
Dr. Patrick Cabaitan
Dr. Vo Si Tuan

Lead
Co-LeadFinalize SOPs: Dec 15, 2015?

: Research and Monitoring of the

Ecological Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems(26-28 August 2015, Phuket, Thailand):: Research and Monitoring of the

Ecological Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems(29-31 August 2015, Phuket, Thailand): 30 participants
 2 experts (NOAA), 1 expert (1 from IOC), and 2 from the region

: Research and Monitoring of the

Ecological Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems(29-31 August 2015, Phuket, Thailand): Technical Aspects:
 To brief on the latest development on GOA-ON and other OA relatedactivities;
 To report on the progress made since the 2nd workshop by the participantson their proposed pilot sites; To will review and test the draft SOPs through expert discussions, and hands
on either in field or at laboratory, in order to finalize the regional SOPs formonitoring the ecological impacts of ocean acidification on coral reefecosystems;
 Tentative plan for the next intersessional period.

: Research and Monitoring of the

Ecological Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems(29-31 August 2015, Phuket, Thailand): Hand on the ARM processes:

: Research and Monitoring of the

Ecological Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems(29-31 August 2015, Phuket, Thailand): Hand on the pH and TA measurement:

: Research and Monitoring of theEcological Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems(29-31 August 2015, Phuket, Thailand): Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) for OA study of the WESPTPAC : Total Alkalinity (including method use by PMBC)
 Spectrophotometric pH (further review by expert)
 Biology Working (Further review) Carbonate Collection and Handling SOP (include in the pH and TA SOP)

: Research and Monitoring of theEcological Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems(29-31 August 2015, Phuket, Thailand): Implement of OA and ARMs
Monitoring in Andaman Sea and Gulfof Thailand start from January 2016by Phuket Marine Biological Centerand Chulalongkrong University,Thailand.
 There are some observations weredone in Philippines and Indonesia
under the cooperation with NOAA

WESTPAC/SEAGOOS
Ocean Acidification Observing Network

Proposed the pilot sites for OA
Observation to theWESTPAC/SEAGOOS, whichsome of those pilot sites havebeen operating since early ofthis year. The rest might be in
the operation in near future.

Global Ocean Acidification Observing NetworkGOA-ON

Thank You for Your Attention