Selected Carbon Cycle Research Observations and Measurement Programs

Gulf of Mexico Ecosystems and Carbon Cruise (GOMECC)

Description: The third GOMECC (GOMECC-3) performed a large-scale survey of ocean acidification trends and dynamics in the Gulf of Mexico on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Ronald H. Brown ship. The NOAA Ocean Acidification Program has been charged with setting up an ocean acidification monitoring network to quantify the increase in near-surface water carbon dioxide (CO₂) and associated changes in inorganic carbon speciation. As part of the observing scheme, dedicated research cruises are conducted to investigate the water column properties along select transects, and pertinent surface water characteristics are evaluated along the cruise track. Coastal ocean measurements of unprecedented quality are used to improve understanding both of where ocean acidification is happening and of how ocean chemistry patterns are changing over time. GOMECC-3 is the most comprehensive ocean acidification cruise to date in this region, also including sampling in the international waters of Mexico for the first time.
Sponsoring agency: NOAA
Observation type: Cruise
Location: Gulf of Mexico
More information: URL; URL and URL

Global Ocean Ship-based Hydrographic Investigations Program (GO-SHIP)

Description: GO-SHIP collaborations bring together scientists with interests in physical oceanography, the carbon cycle, marine biogeochemistry and ecosystems, and other users and collectors of ocean interior data. The program also coordinates a network of globally sustained hydrographic sections as part of the global ocean and climate observing system, including physical oceanography, the carbon cycle, marine biogeochemistry and ecosystems. GO-SHIP provides approximately decadal resolution of the changes in inventories of heat, freshwater, carbon, oxygen, nutrients and transient tracers, covering the ocean basins from coast to coast at full depth (top to bottom). Its global measurements are of the highest accuracy required to detect these changes.
Sponsoring agencies: National Science Foundation (NSF) and NOAA
Observation type: Sustained ocean cruise observations
Location: Global ocean
Timeline: 2006 to present
More information: URL and URL

High-Resolution Ocean and Atmosphere pCO₂ Time-Series Measurements

Description: High-frequency autonomous CO₂ moorings monitor and improve understanding of the coastal ocean carbon balance, continent-scale carbon budgets and impacts of ocean acidification in coastal regions.
Sponsoring agency: NOAA
Observation type: Sustained ocean cruise observations
Location: Coastal and open ocean
Timeline: 2005 to present
More information: Link and Link.

Surface Ocean CO₂ Atlas Project (SOCAT)

Description: SOCAT is a synthesis activity for quality-controlled, surface ocean fCO₂ (i.e., fugacity of CO₂) observations by the international marine carbon research community, including more than 100 contributors. SOCAT data is publicly available, discoverable, and citable. SOCAT enables the quantification of the ocean carbon sink and ocean acidification and the evaluation of ocean biogeochemical models. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2017, SOCAT represents a milestone in biogeochemical and climate research and in informing policy.
Sponsoring agency: NOAA
Observation type: Surface ocean CO₂ synthesis
Location: International
Timeline: 2007 to present
More information: URL and URL

Surface Water pCO₂ Measurements from Ships

Description: NOAA’s automated measurement campaign of surface water CO₂ from 17 ships of opportunity (SOOP-CO₂) quantifies the fluxes of CO₂ on seasonal and regional scales.
Sponsoring agency: NOAA
Observation type: Sustained ocean cruise observations
Location: Global ocean

Timeline: 2005 to present
More information: URL and URL