Coastal ocean regions have a relatively small area, but they are the active interface between the terrestrial and marine environments. Coastal environments directly interact with terrestrial air masses, and because of their sensitivity to changes in wind, river runoff and anthropogenic inputs of nutrients and carbon, are likely to be very sensitive to climate change. Carbon cycling on the continental margins is poorly understood and is under sampled to the point that it is uncertain whether these regions are a net sink or a net source of CO₂ to the atmosphere.

To help address this problem, the PMEL CO₂ Program has initiated a Coastal Studies component to apply our open ocean approaches for studying the carbon cycle (e.g. survey cruises, underway surface observations, and moorings) and apply them in the coastal region.

• Coastal CO₂ Moorings: Click on the red items in the map below to see our current projects.

• Coastal Underway pCO2: The PMEL CO2 Program currently maintains underway pCO2 instruments on NOAA ships that frequent coastal regions. Click on the image to the left for coastal underway pCO2 data.

• NACP West Coast Cruise • NACP Website