Ocean Acidification Research in Latin America and The Caribbean by the REMARCO Network

SANCHEZ-CABEZA JA.; BERNAL C.; GÓMEZ BATISTA M.; MARTÍNEZ-GALARZA RA.; ESPINOSA-DÍAZ LF.; PÉREZ E.; SÁNCHEZ-NOGUERA C.; LOMOVASKY BETINA J.; YUSSEPPONE MS.; GRACO M.; CARHUAPOMA W.; HERRERA MERLO J.; AMARAL V.; VALIÑAS V.; REATEGUI K.; ALFONSO J.; AMAYA O.; QUINTANILLA R.; VALLADAREZ JG.; ALONSO-HERNÁNDEZ CA

Lima

Simposio; 5TH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON THE OCEAN IN A HIGH CO2 WORLD; 2022

REMARCO (Marine and Coastal Stressors Research Network in Latin America and The Caribbean, www.remarco.org) is a collaborative network in science and communication that connects institutions and scientists of 18 countries to provide solid regional scientific information on chemical and microplastics contamination, eutrophication, harmful algal blooms and ocean acidification (OA), to decision-makers and society. REMARCO aims to strengthen capabilities to measure the marine carbonate system and to generate scientific knowledge in the region. Since 2014, the IAEA has supported regional projects that included OA, leading to implementing coastal stations to monitor OA and contributing to SDG 14. We have defined and are distributing the REMARCO-OA kit, and have published freely available methodological manuals in Spanish for specific equipment and procedures (including estimation of analytical uncertainties), adapted to some common regional conditions and constraints. This knowledge is shared through in-person and virtual meetings, courses, and scientific visits by experts. Results are disseminated in international conferences, published in scientific journals, and shared with decision-makers and society by the communications working group. Since 2021, three laboratories successfully participate in international intercomparison activities and submit data to IOC/UNESCO to contribute to the SDG 14.3.1 indicator (marine acidity). Joint work with national decision-makers for reporting the indicator has been achieved in most countries. Some ongoing activities include developing a regional capability for the purification of m-cresol purple, evaluating the effect of dissolved organic matter in the measurement of the carbonate system, studying open ocean waters, using isotopes to study coral calcification and sediment cores to reconstruct pH conditions, and laboratory experiments with marine organisms. The work by REMARCO provides new knowledge on our marine and coastal region, where processes affected by OA remain still largely unknown.