A collaborative framework for joint DFO/NOAA ocean acidification research and monitoring

Table of Contents

• Complete Text
• 1.0 Introduction
  • 1.1 Background and context
  • 1.2 DFO mission as related to ocean acidification
  • 1.3 NOAA mission as related to ocean acidification
  • 1.4 Coordination framework
  • 1.5 Value proposition
• 2.0 Monitoring
  • 2.1 Integrated monitoring
  • 2.2 Priority regions
  • 2.3 Biological indicators
• 3.0 Research, modelling and experimentation
  • 3.1 Modelling initiative
  • 3.2 Establish research priorities
• 4.0 Data and information
  • 4.1 Data sharing
  • 4.2 Inventories of science capacity
  • 4.3 Communication
• 5.0 Supports for collaboration
  • 5.1 Best practices
  • 5.2 Sharing capacity, expertise, and methodologies
  • 5.3 Other partners
  • 5.4 Technology
  • 5.5 Platforms, ships, moorings, and laboratories
• 6.0 Conclusion
  • 6.1 Summary of actionable items
  • 6.2 Future meetings
• Annex: Governance

5.0 Supports for collaboration

5.1 Best practices

DFO and NOAA would benefit from coordination in the establishment and use of shared protocols for best practices. DFO and NOAA will explore possible intercalibration exercises and calibration experiments. To their best ability, both agencies will establish methodologies and procedures according to the Guide to Best Practices for Ocean CO₂ Measurements. To aid in this process, scientists from DFO might attend workshops at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography with Andrew Dickson, as space and funding allow.

In general, both DFO and NOAA can work together to better coordinate platforms, synchronize and calibrate instrumentation according to established Best Practices.

5.2 Sharing capacity, expertise, and methodologies

Coordination efforts between DFO and NOAA will be supported by sharing capacity, expertise, and methodologies. Efforts will focus on exchanging human resources to maximize the use of existing facilities. New DFO funding is available for learning opportunities and the exchange of scientists internationally through the Partnership Fund which can be used to support the sharing of capacity and expertise with NOAA and the US. Early career scientist exchanges or interchange of employees for temporary assignments (e.g. Interchange Canada) is encouraged to support exchange of knowledge and improving networks between DFO and NOAA.

5.3 Other partners

Further coordination and cooperation with University-based researchers and non-governmental organisations will be explored to support DFO-NOAA efforts. A notable potential partner is the Marine Environmental Observation Prediction and Response Network (MEOPAR), a national network that was established in 2012 to reduce vulnerability and strengthen opportunity in Canada’s marine environment. MEOPAR has been renewed for funding for a second five year cycle and will continue to treat OA as a priority research area, as it did during its initial five year funding cycle that began in 2012. A number of scientists from DFO participate in the MEOPAR OA projects and NOAA-funded US scientists serve on its advisory board. MEOPAR projects have begun to study OA in the Atlantic and the Pacific coasts and its impact on organisms/ecosystems and people who depend on them, though they are not yet at the stage of advising governmental resource management.

5.4 Technology

In many cases, monitoring efforts are limited by ineffective technology. To the extent possible, DFO and NOAA will collaborate by sharing knowledge and expertise in technology development. For example, new technology is required to better study the benthos and subsurface water column as well as the biology of toxic algal blooms. DFO and NOAA will share information on sensor performance and availability of less-costly technology to constrain carbonate chemistry, especially systems which might measure at least two carbonate measurements (such as the partial pressure of CO₂ (pCO₂) and Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC), or Total Alkalinity (TA) and pH) simultaneously and in a highly accurate way. Technologies suitable for citizen science efforts should also be included to enable quality data collection from more locations. In addition to the sharing of information, DFO and NOAA can standardize the calibration of sensors to the extent possible, which will lead to a more consistent sampling regime and more comparable results between countries.

5.5 Platforms, ships, moorings, and laboratories

To support coordination efforts, DFO and NOAA agree to share research platforms such as ships, moorings, and laboratories to the extent possible. A plan will be developed to coordinate the timing of cruises, and access to berth spaces of the ships will be provided as needed. Given that scientists, at least in the US, must start securing ship time two years ahead, this coordination will require a long lead time. The coordinates of existing moorings will be shared and maintenance help can also be provided if needed. Access to laboratories, such as the St. Andrews Biological Station, will be encouraged to promote the opportunity to work together on large multifactorial experiments, further supporting research coordination between DFO and NOAA and enabling more efficient determination of biological impacts and potential mitigation strategies.