Today, Submarine Scientific and Carbon to Sea are launching the OAE Data Commons, a shared, open infrastructure that makes ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) research data transparent and accessible for everyone. 

OAE is among the most promising pathways for removing CO₂ from the atmosphere because it works with Earth’s natural chemistry and massive carbon storage potential of the sea. As universities, research institutions, and private companies test its viability through field research across the globe, managing and accessing the data they generate has become a challenge that will only grow as the research base expands. Without standards and tools for managing and sharing data, vital findings risk becoming siloed, duplicated, or lost entirely. The recently published NASEM report on ocean-based carbon dioxide removal and sequestration highlights that “mechanisms for transparent and open data sharing will be critical components for building trust in the safety and responsible operation of marine CDR research sites,” benefiting a range of stakeholder groups.

The OAE Data Commons is designed to address this problem by providing two things the field has lacked: a shared protocol for OAE data and a suite of tools to put this protocol into practice. The OAE Data Management Protocol (launched last year) articulates how field projects collect, structure, and report their data. The OAE Data Commons provides a shared, open infrastructure designed to make OAE research data easier to find, interpret, compare, and scrutinize, helping the field build confidence through transparent and reproducible science. Initiated and funded by Carbon to Sea, developed by Submarine Scientific, this platform establishes a common data management practice for the global OAE research community.

“Transparent sharing of quantification and environmental monitoring data through the OAE Data Commons is a contractual obligation in Frontier’s OAE offtakes—and was a core enabler of our early purchase with Planetary,” said Frauke Kracke, Science lead for Frontier. “Making this evidence available for scrutiny helps build confidence in early deployments and accelerates scientific learning across the field.”

The OAE Data Commons builds on and extends the impact of the protocol by making it easier to contribute and find standardized data about OAE through three major components: 

  • OAE Data Management Protocol: A community protocol defining how OAE field projects should report and manage their data, co-developed with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) and with inputs from over 100 collaborators.
  • OAE Data Search: A searchable registry where researchers, funders, and policymakers can learn about projects, explore datasets, and request proprietary data for research purposes.
  • Metadata Builder: A streamlined tool that guides data managers to easily contribute standardized and well-structured project information for synthesis and intercomparison.

“The OAE Data Commons signals a turning point in how the field shares knowledge,” said Jacki Long, co-founder of Submarine Scientific. “As field projects scale, fragmented data becomes a real liability. This resource gives the global OAE community a shared foundation to innovate off of, allowing researchers to access the information needed to advance their science.”  

Explore the OAE Data Commons →

“Being an early contributor to the OAE Data Commons reflects how Planetary thinks about our role in this field,” said Dr. Will Burt, VP of Science and Product at Planetary. “Responsible progress in OAE depends on open and verifiable science, and that starts with making our data accessible to the community. When private companies participate in shared infrastructure like this, we’re helping to build the trust the whole field needs to move forward.”

Launching today with six projects across Canada, the United States, and Europe, the OAE Data Commons is open now to explore or to add your own projects. Take a look at our Metadata Builder to initiate a page for your project and contribute to the growing knowledge base of the field. If you would like to learn more about how your organization can participate, contact us at data@carbontosea.org and register for our webinar on October 21, 2026. 

Webinar Registration