UKOA consists seven consortia projects, each delivering a key part of the programme and designed to answer the following questions:
How much variability is there in oceanic CO2 uptake and what are the trends for the future?
Led by Professor Andrew Watson, University of East Anglia
What are the impacts of ocean acidification on key benthic (seabed) ecosystems, communities, habitats, species and their life cycles?
Led by Dr Stephen Widdicombe, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
How will ocean acidification affect the biology of surface ocean communities and biogeochemistry, and how that might feedback to climate?
Led by Dr Toby Tyrrell, National Oceanography Centre
How will future ocean acidification impact the ocean carbon cycle and could it further amplify rising CO2 and climate change??
Led by Dr Andy Ridgwell, University of Bristol
How will ocean acidification impact ecosystems and chemical cycling in UK and Arctic regional seas?
Led by Dr Jerry Blackford, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
What were the effects of rapid ocean acidification events in the Earth’s past?
Led by Professor Paul Pearson, Cardiff University
What are the potential impacts of ocean acidification on the life stages of commercially important species, on their associated ecosystems and socio-economics, and their capacity to resist and adapt?
Led by Professor Kevin Flynn, University of Swansea
These projects are supported by the Knowledge Exchange Office, based at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, and a national analytical facility led by Professor Eric Achterberg, National Oceanography Centre.
Science plan
Implementation plan
UKOA leaflet
UKOA podcasts
UKOA data