Progress report for
Achievement at a glance
GOA-ON (Global Ocean Acidification- Observing Network) is guiding the development of an integrated network for the detection and attribution of ocean acidification and ecosystem response, and has engaged with over three hundred participants from 67 nations. Oceans have been surrounding us for more than billions of years and yet it is only now that we have started to uncover the vast array of biologically diverse resources that they possess and as such commenced our journey towards understanding their roles, functions and importance in our lives and their interactions with the Earths system. The chemical changes associated with the increase of carbon dioxide in the oceans are often referred to as ocean acidification. As we work to design suitable experiments to understand the biological and ecological consequences of such changes, it is important that the chemistry of carbon dioxide be well characterized in the various laboratory experiments and field observations that are undertaken in Mauritius. Todays ocean acidification is important not only for the amount of change that has occurred thus far but also for how quickly it is happening. The current rate of acidification is nearly ten times faster than any time in the past 50 million years, outpacing the oceans capacity to restore oceanic pH and carbonate chemistry. The rapid pace of change also gives marine organisms, marine ecosystems, and humans less time to adapt, evolve, or otherwise adjust to the changing circumstances. With the above background in mind, the main aim of this study is to study ocean acidification along the western coast of Mauritius-Flic en Flac and Albion taking into account the current state in terms of pH, DO, salinity, temperature, conductivity, dissolved nutrients and alkalinity of the water in the selected areas as well as the possible impacts of changes in the climate with some simulation exercises as an ongoing part of the ApHRICA Project initiated in July 2016 and August 2017 in Mauritius under GOA-ON, The Ocean Foundation (Washington D.C) , NOAA and IAEA-OA-ICC and OA-Africa till 2019.
Submitted on
21 January, 2018
Progress Status
On track
Organization
University of Mauritius
Name
Roshan T Ramessur
Email
ramessur@uom.ac.mu
