Biogeochemistry with a purpose: integrating ocean-climate research across science, policy, and communities

This seminar will present an innovative approach to co-design fundamental biogeochemical science that aligns with policy and community priorities. The framework will be explored through case studies on ocean-climate stressors, mitigation, and solutions. This presentation will focus on the fundamental research of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, which play an underappreciated role in both organism health and ecosystem biogeochemical cycles. To measure and identify ROS production by coral in situ, the first DIver-operated Submersible Chemiluminescent sensOr (DISCO) was developed to enable high resolution, non-invasive, measurements in real time revealing species-specific variation in extracellular superoxide concentrations associated with healthy coral. To explore the science-policy interface through other climate stressors, this seminar presents a case study on ocean acidification (OA) capacity building through the establishment of the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON) Caribbean Hub. Examples of policy actions across international and U.S. and Canada national landscapes related to OA and potential climate mitigation strategies, such as marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR), will also be discussed. These actions culminate in co-designed methodology for mCDR, which is guided by the CONVERGE CDR program, consisting of an interdisciplinary cohort of post-docs across science, policy, engagement, and economics. Through the CONVERGE Science pillar, a new, open-source nitrogen model is being written to integrate with established biogeochemical models to understand environmental and ecological impacts related to the nitrogen cycle with mCDR techniques. To directly address policy and community priorities, model scenarios on ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) will be co-designed with decision-makers and Indigenous and coastal communities.

Speaker: Kalina Grabb, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute