The IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) is pleased to call for expression of interest in joining its intercalibration exercise on pH and Total Alkalinity measurement.

This intercalibration was developed by a group of WESTPAC OA experts, upon the recommendation of all participating institutions/laboratories in the WESTPAC Ocean Acidification programme, with a view to acquiring a good understanding about the quality of seawater pH and TA measurements in the region, further enhancing capacity for ocean acidification monitoring and analysis, and eventually assisting Member States to achieve SDG 14.3.

Over the past decade, ocean acidification and its potential consequence on ocean ecosystems have received increasingly growing recognition from not only scientific communities, but also decision-makers, relevant stakeholders, and the public. The recognition was reflected, among others, in the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14.3: Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels, and its associated indicator – Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations.

The Sub-Commission seeks to support our Member States in the region preparing for and responding to ocean acidification, by improving research capacity, transferring marine technology, and advancing our understanding on ocean acidification and its impacts on ocean ecosystems.

Therefore, we would encourage you to circulate this information to these institutions/labs in your countries, who you think should or may be interested in joining the intercalibration exercise. For more details on technical arrangement, please find below a Technical Guideline and Data Report Form (Annex I). To facilitate the preparations, we would appreciate receiving the completed Registration Form (Annex II), as early as possible, preferably no later than 24 October 2021.