xFOCE: An open source, multi-disciplinary resource for in-situ ocean acidification research

The open source Free Ocean CO₂ Enrichment (xFOCE) technology is a resource to enable the oceanographic community to study the long-term impacts of rising levels of CO₂ in the world´s ocean environment. The issue of worldwide ocean acidification (OA) is a wellestablished fact. The impact of this change on the organisms and ecosystem of the ocean is not well understood, and has become a focal point for scientific inquiry. Meanwhile OA research is transitioning from laboratory experiments to in situ experiments. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) has been at the forefront of in-situ OA research through the use of the Free Ocean CO2 Enrichment (FOCE) concept. FOCE uses fundamental concepts in OA research to conduct in-situ research in a stabilized, long term, userdefined pH environment. Stemming from its experience, MBARI has taken the initiative to develop xFOCE. The “x” in xFOCE denotes the multi-disciplinary nature of OA research, and refers to the many and varied environments for experimentation. xFOCE is intended to provide the OA community with resources to help address their specific needs. Economic realities have resulted in stiff competition for funding to conduct ocean acidification research and xFOCE helps by providing a free reference design, community advice and cost saving information. The expectation is that xFOCE will be a long-term repository of FOCE information for OA research. The xFOCE website is a community-driven repository for information such as suitable materials, experiment chamber fabrication techniques, chamber stabilization, sensor recommendations, software and applications, and numerous other tools to assist researchers with their OA work. Although MBARI is providing the initial framework for xFOCE, the intention is that the OA community will use the open source concept and contribute resources to enrich the OA community.