[Coral-List] ICRS 2020 Session: Ocean acidification and coastal acidification: What are the drivers, processes and consequences for coral reef ecosystems?

[Katharina Fabricius]

Dear Coral Listers,

We warmly invite you to present your work at the ICRS 2020 in the session
* Ocean acidification and coastal acidification: What are the drivers, processes and consequences for coral reef ecosystems? *
In Theme 9:  *Global and local impacts*
Summary: Ocean acidification is an insidious and chronic stressor for coral reefs that can be enhanced in coastal waters. In coastal regions and on shallow continental shelves, a number of processes including eutrophication can further elevate CO2, leading to coastal acidification. Many coral reefs are therefore exposed to both ocean and coastal acidification. While ocean acidification is irreversible at human time scales, coastal acidification may be more amenable to management via water quality improvement strategies. To date, much work has focused on the effects of acidification on future reefs under various CO2 emission scenarios. Evidence now suggests that some of today's coral reefs are already being substantially altered by these changes in seawater carbonate chemistry. Carbon dioxide dynamics in coral reefs are controlled by high intrinsic rates of production, respiration and calcification, as well as by imports of nutrients and organic matter from external sources, light, and by light and seawater hydrodynamics. Together, these factors expose coral reefs to highly variable and at times extreme carbonate chemistry conditions.
This session will bring together new insights into the relevant biophysical drivers and processes of ocean and coastal acidification, and their measured and predicted consequences for present and future coral reef ecosystems. We invite studies focusing on this portfolio of questions, with emphasis on carbonate chemistry variability and trends, on conceptual and empirical findings on their effects ranging from molecular to ecosystems, and on research methods development ranging from biochemical to modelling.
We are looking forward to receiving your abstracts, due 1st September, and seeing you in Bremen!
Kind regards,
Katharina Fabricius, Joy Smith and Rebecca Albright