Observing Ocean Acidification from Space

Abstract

Space-based observations provide synoptic coverage of surface ocean temperature, winds, sea surface height, and color useful to a wide range of oceanographic applications. These measurements are increasingly applied to monitor large-scale environmental and climate processes that can have an impact on important managed marine resources. From observing the development of harmful algal blooms using ocean color, to tracking regions of thermal stress that can induce coral bleaching, satellites are routinely used for environmental monitoring. Here, we demonstrate an approach to monitoring changes in sea surface ocean chemistry in response to ocean acidification as applied to the Greater Caribbean Region. It is based on establishing regional empirical algorithms that combine parameters measured in situ and remotely sensed observables and then using the high-resolution remotely sensed products. This tool is important for exploring regional to basinwide trends in ocean acidification on seasonal to interannual time scales.

Keywords

• ocean acidification
• satellites
• environmental monitoring
• ocean chemistry