The combined impacts of ocean acidification, hypoxia, long-term warming, marine heatwaves, and harmful algal blooms (HABs) have emerged as key pathways for disruption of ocean ecosystems within the California Current Ecosystem.

To understand the changing chemistry of the California Current Ecosystem and the impacts of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems, we made ship-based observations of key physical, chemical, and biological data that can be used to develop management strategies for adapting to the consequences of ocean acidification, in combination with insights from with moored observations and models. Ship-based measurements provide the highest quality ocean observations, along with high spatial and vertical resolution over the full water column of a suite of physical, chemical, and biological parameters. Our coastal research cruises and long-term, high-frequency moored observations have revealed trends in ocean acidification over time, leading to a better understanding of the spatial and temporal variability of ocean acidification and provided insights into how ocean acidification will manifest in nearshore coastal areas.