Ocean acidification (OA), the decline of seawater pH due to absorption of anthropogenic CO2, is a fast developing field of research. Currently, various research groups are collecting time-series pH observations with uncoordinated methods. We have a rare opportunity for the Network to establish a shared vocabulary, methodology and/or dataset templates a priori, and to foster straightforward comparison of data from multiple contributors, both within LTER and beyond. Our Network is well acquainted with the difficulty of synthesizing data from long-established, separately developed projects. Knowing that field observations of OA will be of vital interest in the long term, we can employ foresight informed by that experience. This workshop can provide a model for how such activities might be accomplished in the Network as a whole and set a precedent of OA observation data management for other agencies.
We plan to develop data management protocols and pre-defined templates for data associated with a nascent research area: seawater carbonate chemistry as high-frequency time-series. At least 4 LTER sites have OA research projects and can offer expertise in different IM components. This working group will map a plan to develop: (1) A sub-tree of discovery keywords and their interrelationships to the LTER Controlled Vocabulary, (2) An EML (define?) dataset, (3) Recommendations of attributes to include with instrument site description in the metadata so that OA data may be properly interpreted, e.g. whether a biological signal is expected.

Organizer:
M. Gastil Gastil-…

Co-organizer(s):
Lydia Kapsenberg
Carol Blanchette
Robert Carpenter
Peter Edmunds

2012 LTER ASM, August 2012. Web page.