LOC-NESS NaOH alkalinity trial
Key Questions
What is the LOC-NESS NaOH alkalinity trial testing?
The trial is releasing approximately 65kL of NaOH near Boston to study impacts on pH, plankton, and prey over a 2-8 week window.
What monitoring challenges does the trial face?
High-frequency pH, carbonate chemistry, plankton, and eDNA transects are needed, but Gulf of Mexico Orca Basin risks and potential dismantling of OOI instruments threaten data collection.
How might funding cuts affect ocean alkalinity research?
Proposed Trump NOAA budget slashes of $1.1B and NSF dismantling of 900 OOI instruments over 15 months could end critical monitoring, though National Academies guidance and EU OceanEye funding may offer alternatives.
~65kL NaOH Boston: 2-8wk pH/plankton/prey window closing. High-freq pH/carbonate, plankton/eDNA transects; Gulf Orca Basin risks. Trump NOAA $1.1B slash threatens monitoring; OOI dismantling threatened trial monitoring—now reversed, but some moorings already pulled. National Academies statement and EU OceanEye $92M budget offer potential alternative monitoring. Today's eDNA method could support monitoring if deployed. Today's OOI reversal changes outlook positively.