Reconstructing the long-term time series of ocean acidification data in the Gulf of Trieste: the importance of metadata for data harmonisation and standardisation

The ocean helps in mitigating climate change by absorbing a large part of the excess heat and atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by human activities. A decrease in surface ocean pH, known as ocean acidification, is a consequence of an increase in ocean uptake of CO2 concentrations which presents a significant challenge to various marine organisms, particularly those that rely on calcium for their structures (Metzl et al., 2024; Petton et al., 2024).  More than ever, consistent long-term observations of acidification and carbon cycling variables such as pH, temperature, salinity and CO2 are crucial to provide a quantitative assessment of the vulnerability of an area under climate and anthropogenic stressors. However, up to now, there are only a limited number of coastal observation sites where these parameters are measured simultaneously and at high frequency.

In the framework of the ITINERIS project, financed by NextGenerationEU Programme (2022-2025), data on ocean acidification and carbon cycling parameters acquired by the meteo-oceanographic buoy MAMBO-1 (Monitoraggio AMBientale Operativo) were harmonized and standardized in order to obtain a consistent, up-to-date and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) continuous time series (1999-2024). The MAMBO-1 buoy was the first meteorological-maritime coastal station to be installed in the northern Adriatic sea capable of recording meteorological and oceanographic parameters in near-real time (Partescano et al., 2014). The buoy is anchored at about 17 m in the seabed within the border of the Miramare Marine Protected Area in the Gulf of Trieste (45.6976667 °N and 13.7083333 °E) and has been operative since January 1999 (M. Lipizer et al., 2017). Over the years, the configuration and instrumentation of the site have changed several times, so it is difficult to obtain a continuous long-term time series from a data management perspective.

The importance of the availability of the long-term time series justifies the reconstruction effort for future studies aimed at obtaining a clearer picture of ocean acidification and carbon cycle processes in the northern Adriatic Sea.

References

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Metzl, N., Lo Monaco, C., Leseurre, C., Ridame, C., Reverdin, G., Chau, T. T. T., Chevallier, F., & Gehlen, M. (2024). Anthropogenic CO 2 , air–sea CO 2 fluxes, and acidification in the Southern Ocean: Results from a time-series analysis at station OISO-KERFIX (51° S–68° E). Ocean Science, 20(3), 725–758. https://doi.org/10.5194/os-20-725-2024

Partescano, E., Giorgetti, A., Fanara, C., Crise, A., Oggioni, A., Brosich, A., & Carrara, P. (2014). A (Near) Real-time Validation and Standardization System Tested for MAMBO1 Meteo-marine Fixed Station. https://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.2788.4800

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