Monica Allen Friday, April 6, 2018 / Categories: Research Headlines, Fisheries & Seafood, 2018 NOAA and partners launch buoy to track changing coastal chemistry in Chesapeake Bay NOAA and partners launched a new buoy this week at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay to monitor how increasing concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide and increase ocean acidification impact the bay and its valuable shellfish. Carbon dioxide concentrations fluctuate greatly in the Chesapeake Bay, the nation’s largest estuary, which receives fresh water carried by more than 150 rivers and streams in the bay’s six-state watershed. In carbon dioxide-rich coastal waters, research has shown that young shellfish such as oysters can have difficulty growing and surviving. A new buoy launched by NOAA and several partners is the first to monitor the changing chemistry of Chesapeake Bay caused by rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Ocean acidification could impact the growth and productivity of the bay's oysters, which are a $43 million fishery. Measurements from sensors on the new buoy will help identify areas of the bay that may be particularly vulnerable to increased absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, known as ocean acidification. The sensors will also help boost our understanding of how large amounts of freshwater carrying fertilizer and other nutrients into the bay may exacerbate coastal acidification. This is the first buoy measuring changes in ocean acidification in Chesapeake Bay. “Although ocean or coastal acidification does not seem to be a primary concern for oyster aquaculture in this region right now, this newly deployed buoy will supply models with the needed information to recognize potential areas of vulnerability, now and in the future,” said Dr. Jeremy Testa, professor at University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. The goal of this partnership between NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (OAP), NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, U.S. IOOS Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System, and the University of Delaware is to produce high quality data and models to monitor acidification in the Chesapeake Bay. The new buoy will be located beside the First Landing Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System site to maximize collaboration with existing research and observations. For more information, contact Monica Allen with NOAA Communications at monica.allen@noaa.gov or 301-734-1123. Previous Article New National Academies' report lays out path forward for methane research Next Article Keeping invasive fish species out of the Great Lakes Print 12449 Tags: Carbon Dioxide ocean acidification PMEL Chesapeake Bay IOOS Buoy More links Coastal MooringsPMEL is developing a global network of carbon dioxide time-series observations MARACOOSMid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System, a Regional Coastal Observing System Related articles When volcanoes roar: protecting the public and tracking long-term climate impacts NOAA Research's top accomplishments from 2022 Global atmospheric carbon dioxide levels continue to rise Greenhouse gas pollution trapped 49% more heat in 2021 than in 1990, NOAA finds Researchers develop automated method to identify fish calls underwater