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Alaska\u2019s longest continual ocean acidification mooring just turned ten years old. In lieu of a birthday cake, AOOS partners at the University of Alaska brought the mooring back to shore for its annual maintenance and got it right back out in the water.<\/span><\/p>\n Nicknamed “GAKOA” (for Gulf of Alaska Ocean Acidification), the mooring has been a fixture in the waters of Resurrection Bay near Seward since 2013. It has gotten shout outs from tour boat operators and fishing charters, been investigated by sea birds and orcas, and braved high seas and storms. Twice a year, a team from UAF led by Natalie Monacci heads out to care for the mooring. <\/span> Throughout this time, GAKOA\u2019s role has been consistent: collect oceanographic data that helps us understand ocean chemistry and change over time. The mooring\u2019s sensors monitor the exchange of carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and seawater, as well as seawater pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, and fluorescence.\u00a0 A nearby oceanographic station known as GAK1 has collected an additional spectrum of data since 1970. These complementary efforts help give researchers insights into ocean physics, biogeochemistry and response to ocean change.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n How is GAKOA\u2019s data useful?<\/b><\/p>\n Coastal regions around Alaska are experiencing a rapid onset of ocean acidification compared to other regions, and GAKOA\u2019s record will help communities in Alaska plan for future changes. Ocean acidification is a global phenomenon but manifests differently across regions depending on a mix of local drivers such as water temperature, circulation and salinity. Coastal regions like the mouth of Resurrection Bay experience more variability than the open ocean, with large seasonal and interannual changes. This means a longer dataset is needed to determine trends and drivers of changes in ocean chemistry, attributed to both human-caused and natural processes. Annual data from GAKOA is used in local and international projects, such as ecosystem studies in the Northern Gulf of Alaska and the global carbon budget. Now that GAKOA has a decade-long record, it is approaching the length necessary to assess long-term trends, including anthropogenic (human caused) trends in sea water carbon dioxide, the cause of ocean acidification. <\/span>Observations at the GAKOA mooring site currently contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal and the World Meteorological Organization\u2019s climate indicators.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What have we learned so far?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Partners:<\/b> University of Alaska Fairbanks, NOAA\u2019s Ocean Acidification Program, Alaska Ocean Observing System, North Pacific Research Board\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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<\/span>\u201cGAKOA is a core part of our monitoring in the Gulf of Alaska and we start every new field season at this site,\u201d Monacci said.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s always nice to begin each year with a successful turnaround.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n