Changes in ocean chemistry in response to rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, termed ocean acidification (OA), has emerged as a topic of considerable concern to scientist, policy makers, and resource managers. Over the next century changes in carbon dioxide could impart significant, albeit poorly understood, impacts to marine resources. The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) Ocean Acidification Science Plan is intended to guide NOAA funded coral reef ecosystem OA research for 2012-2016, including research conducted through extramural partners, grants and contracts. The plan covers all shallow coral reef ecosystems under the jurisdiction of the United States (U.S.) and Pacific Freely Associated States (PFAS), and outlines national research needed to address the many management challenges for reducing threats, reversing declines and promoting the resilience of coral reef ecosystems. The priority areas detailed in the plan are responsive to numerous legislative requirements including the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-11) and the National Ocean Policy Executive Order (July 2010), and align with broader NOAA strategic documents including the NOAA Ocean and Great Lakes Acidification Research Plan and the NOAA Next Generation Strategic Plan.
Citation: Gledhill, D.K. and J.D. Tomczuk (eds.). 2012. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Ocean Acidification Science Plan Fiscal Years 2012 - 2016. Silver Spring, MD: NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP 18. 31 pp.
