The Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies (BCSS) is proud to announce its official inclusion in the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network. By joining GOA-ON, the BCSS GOA-ON partnership now shares vital long-term datasets from its Ocean Observatory Mozambique with a global scientific community working to track ocean chemistry and the impacts of climate change.
Why Ocean Climate Monitoring Matters
Ocean acidification is often described as the “other CO₂ problem.” As the ocean absorbs increasing amounts of carbon dioxide, its chemistry shifts, leading to a lower pH. This change threatens marine ecosystems worldwide, from coral reefs to fisheries. For Mozambique, where coastal communities depend on marine resources, ocean climate monitoring is essential for building resilience and guiding conservation strategies.
Coral bleaching in progress: as ocean acidification lowers pH levels, corals struggle to build skeletons, leaving reefs weakened and vulnerable to collapse.
BCSS Contributions to Global Science
Since 2017, BCSS has been leading Bazaruto scientific research through Africa’s first permanent Ocean Observatory. The station collects continuous time-series data on seawater temperature, salinity, carbonate chemistry, and pH. This BCSS marine data Mozambique provides critical insights into how ecosystems like coral reefs and seagrass meadows respond to environmental change.
These datasets are more than numbers; they represent the health of the Bazaruto Archipelago’s unique ecosystems. From reef-building corals to seagrass nurseries supporting fisheries, the Observatory’s findings help inform local and international conservation decisions.
The Role of the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network
The Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network brings together scientists and institutions from across the world to monitor and share data on ocean acidification. With the addition of BCSS, GOA-ON Africa strengthens its regional coverage, ensuring Mozambique’s ecosystems are represented in the global dataset. This collaboration allows local realities in the Western Indian Ocean to contribute to worldwide climate science and policy.
Open Ocean Data and Collaboration
A core part of the BCSS GOA-ON partnership is the principle of open ocean data. By making BCSS’s datasets available through the GOA-ON portal, researchers, conservationists, and policymakers worldwide can access and use this information to drive climate action and sustainable management. Open science fosters collaboration, innovation, and knowledge-sharing—essential tools for tackling global environmental challenges.
BCSS Ocean Observatory Mozambique displayed on the GOA-ON Explorer: sharing open ocean data from the Bazaruto Archipelago with the global network for ocean climate monitoring.
Looking Ahead
Joining the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network is a significant milestone for BCSS and Mozambique’s role in international climate science. By combining high-quality monitoring with open collaboration, BCSS is helping ensure that the voices of African ecosystems are included in the global response to ocean change.
We welcome scientists, conservation organizations, and students to collaborate with BCSS or participate in our Scientific Training Program to gain hands-on experience in marine monitoring and conservation.
More information:
For questions about this article, please contact:
Ekaterina Kalashnikova, Bazaruto Archipelago – Ocean Observatory Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies ekaterina.kalashnikova@bcssmz.org
To get in touch and collaborate with our research Center , please visit https://bcssmz.org/logistical-support-consultancy/
To learn more about our Scientific Training Program, please see https://bcssmz.org/scientific-training-program/