The Ocean Carbon and Acidification Data System.

Area of Science:

• Oceanography
• Marine Chemistry
• Climate Science

Background:

• Ocean carbon and acidification are critical areas of research impacting marine ecosystems and global climate.
• Managing diverse oceanographic data, including biogeochemical variables, is essential for scientific advancement.
• Existing data systems may not fully integrate the breadth of ocean carbon and acidification information.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Ocean Carbon and Acidification Data System (OCADS) as a centralized data management solution.
• To highlight OCADS' role in collecting, managing, and disseminating ocean carbon and acidification data.
• To emphasize OCADS' commitment to serving the research community through a customer-centric approach.

Main Methods:

• OCADS manages a wide array of data, including chemical, physical, and biological observations.
• Data are sourced from research vessels, ships of opportunity, uncrewed platforms, laboratory experiments, and model outputs.
• OCADS also serves as a repository for Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) biogeochemistry Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs).

Main Results:

• OCADS offers a comprehensive data management system for ocean carbon and acidification research.
• It consolidates diverse data types into a single, accessible portal.
• The system actively incorporates community expertise to enhance data management practices.

Conclusions:

• OCADS is positioned to be a leading global provider of ocean carbon and acidification data, information, products, and services.
• Accessibility of data through a unified portal is a key objective.
• International collaboration and data submission are encouraged to build a robust global dataset.