Chesapeake Bay Acidification
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States, IOOS is organized into a collection of smaller coastal and ocean observing systems that collect
data at regional scales.
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARACOOS) – the IOOS
RA in the Mid-Atlantic – coordinates oceanographic observation in the Chesapeake Bay region and
surrounding coastal waters. In cooperation with NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office (NCBO),
IOOS/MARACOOS supports operation and enhancement of the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy
System (CBIBS). CBIBS is a collection of “smart buoys” that collect real-time data, including water
quality and weather data. CBIBS consists of several buoys (~11) that are positioned across the Bay. These
data are collected in real time and made available to the public via the MARACOOS and IOOS web-
based data portals. At present, some CBIBS buoys measure pH, but none are measuring pCO
2
. NCBO
provides extensive remote sensing through NOOA’s CoastWatch program to collect oceanographic
satellite data on water quality (chlorophyll, sediments, water temperature).Together, IOOS, MARACOOS
and NCBO maintain a broad variety of environmental observing programs that will no doubt be central to
any proposed Chesapeake Bay Acidification Network.
In response to Executive Order No.
13508 (Chesapeake Bay Protection and Restoration, 2009
), the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed total daily maximum loads (TMDLs) for the
Chesapeake Bay and its estuaries. In conjunction with USGS, and other partners, EPA has observing
assets throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed to monitor water quality, with a strong focus on nutrient
and sediments loads. Understanding watershed inputs to the Bay will be an important component to
understanding spatial variability of acidification in Chesapeake Bay and the complex nature of interacting
environmental stressors that are in play here.
The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is comprised of 28 reserves nationwide and maintains
two reserves in Chesapeake Bay (VA and MD). NERRS carries out coordinated monitoring and research
across its national network in support of scientifically based assessment of coastal management at local,
regional, and national scales. In addition to providing an extensive set of standardized real time
environmental measurements (available to the public on the web), NERRS serves as a model network
system and as a possible partner for CBAN.
At the state level, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR) “Eyes on the Bay” Program
is designed to monitor various environmental parameters, primarily chemical and biological, to assess the
health of Chesapeake Bay, and to track the effectiveness of environmental management actions. The
Eyes on the Bay program consists of approximately 31 continuous monitoring stations in Chesapeake and
coastal bays, as well as over 70 monthly (or more frequent) monitoring stations (22 in the Bay’s
mainstem and 45 in tidal tributaries). Core DNR monitoring consists of continuous monitoring stations
and fixed monthly monitoring stations. A typical continuous monitoring station collects data on dissolved
oxygen, salinity, water temperature, pH, turbidity, chlorophyll concentration, and water depth. Monthly
parameters measured are dissolved oxygen, Secchi depth, salinity, water temperature, and pH. This
program partners with a wide range of federal, state, county, non-profit and for-profit organizations. Eyes
on the Bay data are publically accessible on the web.
There are also a variety of university-based, federal, and state laboratories located throughout the
Chesapeake Bay region. The Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences operates the Virginia Estuary and
Coastal Observing System (VECOS). The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) is
measuring pCO
2
at one minute intervals at three locations in the Maryland portion of Chesapeake Bay,
two of which are in the Rhode River (Miller et al.) and one at the UMCES Chesapeake Biological
Laboratory (CBL) (Tamburri et al.) research pier at the mouth of the Patuxent River. Water samples are
collected weekly to twice weekly for total alkalinity titration in order to calculate pH, TCO
2
, and
