Introductory Remarks - Ocean Acidification: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?

Elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and the acidification of Earth’s oceans are due largely to absorption by seawater of excess, atmospheric CO₂ from fossil-fuel combustion.  Ocean acidification (OA) is expected to affect the ocean’s mineralogy, biota, and ecosystems in ways that range from minimal and subtle to strong and pervasive.  Like other aspects of climate change, the source of the problem (CO₂ accumulation), its projected increase over the next centuries, and its consequences will require long-term attention and action.  A body of OA research is rapidly building that underscores that biological effects of OA are likely to be complex and diverse.  It is the job of marine scientists and resource managers to develop a predictive understanding of these effects and implement adaptive practices.  This Introduction will provide background on OA research, introduce the sub-themes to be discussed during this symposium and the related poster session, and give poster presenters a chance to briefly summarize their posters.  Here, OA effects are viewed at multiple scales, from sub-organismal to organisms to populations and to ecosystems.  Foremost among OA research challenges and opportunities is that of finding, developing, and implementing the right multidisciplinary tools to address this fundamentally interdisciplinary problem.