Progress in Controlled In Situ Ocean Acidification Experiments

Abstract

Ocean acidification is widely recognized as a significant climate‐related oceanic threat, not only independently but also in connection with other oceanic stressors, including warming and deoxygenation. Recent work shows that ocean acidification will negatively affect processes such as calcification of most species, including reef‐building corals, and could also cause diminished fish sensory ability and respiratory stress. However, almost all of these findings result from short‐term experiments on organisms in laboratory aquaria. But how can scientists perform long‐term in situ experiments that may confirm, or modify, conclusions drawn from laboratory experiments? With funding from the BNP Paribas Foundation, the xFOCE workshop brought together a group of 20 scientists and engineers to examine this.