A surface ocean CO₂ reference network, SOCONET and associated marine boundary layer CO₂ measurements

The Surface Ocean CO₂ NETwork (SOCONET) and atmospheric Marine Boundary Layer (MBL) CO₂ measurements from ships and buoys focus on the operational aspects of measurements of CO₂ in both the ocean surface and atmospheric MBLs. The goal is to provide accurate pCO₂ data to within 2 micro atmosphere (μatm) for surface ocean and 0.2 parts per million (ppm) for MBL measurements following rigorous best practices, calibration and intercomparison procedures. Platforms and data will be tracked in near real-time and final quality-controlled data will be provided to the community within a year. The network, involving partners worldwide, will aid in production of important products such as maps of monthly resolved surface ocean CO₂ and air-sea CO₂ flux measurements. These products and other derivatives using surface ocean and MBL CO₂ data, such as surface ocean pH maps and MBL CO₂ maps, will be of high value for policy assessments and socio-economic decisions regarding the role of the ocean in sequestering anthropogenic CO₂ and how this uptake is impacting ocean health by ocean acidification. SOCONET has an open ocean emphasis but will work with regional (coastal) networks. It will liaise with intergovernmental science organizations such as Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW), and the joint committee for and ocean and marine meteorology (JCOMM). Here we describe the details of this emerging network and its proposed operations and practices.