The Current Activities of KORDIs The Current Activities of KORDIs Environmental Study for Deep-Sea Mining Environmental Study

for Deep-Sea Mining

June 7, 2011

Ju-Won Son Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute orea cean esearch & evelopment nstitute
Deep-Sea & Marine Georesources Research Department

Contents
1. Case study 1: Equatorial Pacific for Mn nodule Mining Program 2. Case study 2: Southwest Pacific & Central Indian Ridge for Sulfide Deposits Mining Program (SDMP)

Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute orea cean esearch & evelopment nstitute
Deep-Sea & Marine Georesources Research Department

Case study 1
Mn nodule Mining Program in the Equatorial Pacific

1. Deep-Sea Mn nodule Mining Program Environmental study (KODOS)

Objective - To understand the physical, chemical, biological, and geological properties of the interesting areas - To evaluate the environmental impacts of the deep-sea floor mining activities in northeast Equatorial Pacific Summary - Multi-year research program (from 1989 to current) & to be continued - Field observations, mainly focused on the deep-sea Mn mining development

Environmental items (ISA recommended)

Group Environmental items
- Surface oceanographic structure - CTD - Current meter and ADCP - Filteration - SeaWiFS satellite image
-

Methods and Instruments

Physical Oceanography

- Current condition - Particulate matter in discharge depth - Satellite-data analysis

-

D.O., pH, Inorganic Nutrients

Titration, pH meter, Nutrients auto analyzer

Chemical Oceanography

- Total organic carbon - Chemical exchange between the sediment and the water column - Trace metals in water column - Geotechnical properties

- TOC analyzer - ? Benthic Chamber - ? ICP-MS - MC, Pycnometer, motorised vane system, automatic analyzer - IC, Elemental analyzer - ICP-AES - Scintillation counter, Microscope, Luminometer - Flow cytometric analysis, Microscope, Net, Scintillation counter, Elemental analyzer - MC, BC, Microscope, Deep sea camera - MC, BC, Microscope, Deep sea camera - ? Freefall benthos observation system -? - MC, BC, 210Pb - MC, BC, 210Pb - Sediments Trap grain size

Sediment properties

- Pore chemistry, Organic carbon - Metal contents of manganese nodule - Microorganism at water column and sediments - Pelagic communities

Biological Communities

- Benthic fauna - Nodule fauna - Demersal scavenger - Benthic impact experiments - Sediments-mixing rate

Bioturbation
- Rate of bioturbation

Sedimentation

- Vertical mass flux

Detail sampling protocols were described at Chapter 10, Data Standards utilized in the environmental studies of KORDI. In: Standardization of environmental data and information-Development of guidelines (ISA, 2002)

KORDI Environmental surveys

u

survey areas
n n n n

1995~2010 : 131.3OW, 10.5ON (KOMO, Long-term Monitoring St. ) 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005 : 0O~17ON, along 131.5OW (Latitudinal, n=18) 2001, 2002, 2004 : 128O~136OW, along 10.5ON (Longitudinal, n=9) 2006~2010 : KR2 (n=14) and KR5 (n=70)
CTD10

16
Latitude( N)

KR2
CTD12 16.5 KOMO2 CTD11

14

12
CTD9 16.0 131.0 130.5
O

Latitude (O N)

10
12.0

Longitude( W)

8
CTD8

Map showing mining contracted areas in the northeast equatorial Pacific.

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

KR5
11.0

CTD7

Latitude( N)

CTD1

CTD2

KOMO1

CTD3

CTD4

CTD6 10.0

CTD5 CTD LADCP BC, MC

0 136

134

132

130
O

128

126

9.0 133.0 132.0 131.0

O

130.0

Longitude ( W)

Longitude ( W)

1998-2010

2010

 Research Activities

CTD

Sediment trap

Zooplankton sampling

Multiple Corer

Box Corer

Mesocosm experiments

Case study 1- Results

Physical properties - Latitudinal

n n n

South Equatorial Current (SEC) : 10oS~3oN North Equatorial Counter Current (NECC) : 3oN~8oN North Equatorial Current (NEC) : 8oN~20oN
SEC
0

Convergence Divergence
Temperature( oC)
NECC Divergence NEC
28 26 24 22 20 18 16 14

Convergence 50

Depth(m)

100

150

(A)KODOS98
200 0 NECC NEC

12 10

28 26 24

50

Depth (m)

Divergence 100

22 20 18 16

150 Convergence 200 NECC 0

14

(B)KODOS99
NEC

12 10

28 26

50

Depth (m)

24 22 20

Meridional distributions of 3 major currents in the northeastern equatorial Pacific in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, and 2007

100
Divergence

18 16 14 12 10

150
Convergence

200 0

(C)KODOS00
NECC NEC

28 26

50

24 22

Depth(m)

Meridional distributions of temperature in the northeastern equatorial Pacific in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2003

100
150 Convergence

Divergence

20 18 16 14

200 5 6 7 8 9

(D)KODOS03
10 11 12

12 10

Latitude(oN)

Physical properties - bottom current

n

Long-term monitoring results of the bottom current (Jul. 2008 to Jul. 2009)
Summarize of the bottom current velocities and main directions
Water Depth/ Altitude (m) 1,254 / 3,765 5,004 / 15 Current velocity Average (cm/s) 4.4 3.5 Maximum (cm/s) 15.3 10.6 Progressive vector current velocity Average (m/day) 1,228 1,044 Main direction NE NE, SE

Stick plots of current velocity (15 m above the bottom)

Progressive vector diagram of current velocity (15 m above the bottom)

Chemical properties DO & TOC

n

Vertical distribution of dissolved oxygen (DO) and total organic carbon (TOC)
Temperature ( C)
0 0 10 20 30
0 0.0
o

Total Organic Carbon (mg/l)

TOC (mg/L)
1.0

0.5

1.5

2.0

Surface layer
1

Middle layer (permanent thermocline )

Oxygen Minimum layer

500 1000 1500

Refractory Organic Matter

TOC=1.56e

-0.1006Ln(D)

Depth (km)

Depth (m)

2000 2500

Deeper layer

3000 3500

Sea floor
4000

Typical structure column in the Equatorial Pacific.

of water northeast

Vertical distribution of DO in study area shows general pattern of open ocean

Vertical structure of TOC in study area (ROM = 0.7 mg/L)

Chemical properties - Nutrients

n

Vertical distribution of inorganic nutrients (2007) (nitrate+nitrite, phosphate, silicate)

Nitrite+Nitrate Concentration (M) 0 0 500 1000 20 40 60 0 500 1000 0 Phosphate Concentration (M) 1 2 3 4 0 500 1000 1500 0 Silicate Concentration (M) 50 100 150

Permanent thermocline
1500 1500

Depth (m)

Depth (m)

Depth (m)

2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500

2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500

2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500

Vertical distribution of inorganic nutrient in study area shows general pattern of open ocean. The green color bar indicate a permanent thermocline

Spatial distribution of nutrients

n

Vertical distributions of nutrients

South
5 0 6 7 8 9 Latitude ( N) 10 11 12 13 14

North
15 16 17
34

South
0 0 1 2 3 4 Latitude ( N) 5 6 7 8 9

North
10 11 12
34 30 26

West
Longitude ( W) 136 0 135 134 133 132 131 130

East
129 128
38.0 34.0 30.0 26.0

Convergence
50

30 26

Convergence
50

N
50

Depth (m)

Depth (m)

22

22

Depth (m)

100

18

100

18 14

100

22.0 18.0 14.0

150

Divergence

14 10 6

150 Divergence

Divergence
Latitude ( N) 5 6 7

10 6

150

10.0

Nitrite+Nitrate (mM)
200

Nitrite+Nitrate (mM)
200

Nitrate + Nitrite ( M)
200

6.0 2.0

5 0

Latitude ( N) 10 11 12

Longitude ( W)

13

14

15

16

17

0 0
3.4

10

11

12
3.4

136 0

135

134

133

132

131

130

129

128

50

3.0 2.6

P
50

3.0 2.6

P
50

2.4 2.0 1.6

Depth (m)

Depth (m)

100

Depth (m)

2.2 1.8 1.4

2.2

100

1.8 1.4

100

1.2 0.8

150

1.0 0.6

150

1.0 0.6

150
0.4

Phosphate (mM)
200

0.2

Phosphate (mM)
200
0 0 1 2 3 4 Latitude ( N) 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

0.2

Phosphate ( M)
200
Longitude ( W) 136 0 135 134 133 132 131 130 129 128

0.0

5 0

Latitude ( N) 10 11 12

13

14

15

16

17
34

2003
50

Si

30 26

2005
50

34

Si

30 26

Si
50

2004

30.0 26.0 22.0

Depth (m)

Depth (m)

Depth (m)

22

22

18.0

100

18 14

100

18 14

100
14.0 10.0

150

10 6

150

10 6

150
6.0

Silicate (mM)
200

Silicate (mM)
200

Silicate ( M)
200

2.0

Latitudinal vertical distributions of nutrients (N, P, and Si) (2003, 2005)

Longitudinal vertical distributions of nutrients (N, P, and Si) (2004)

Interannual variation of nutrients

n

long-term variation of nutrients

La nina El nino

5N
0m

12ON

Surface mixed area

Oligotrophic region Photic zone

90 ~ 110 m

Thermocline

Eutrophic region
200 m 0m 10~30 m

A
Upwelling

Surface mixed area

Mesotrophic region

Thermocline

Photic zone

Downwelling

100 m

150 m

rm

lin c

Eutrophic region
200 m

Annual variation of nutrients concentration at KOMO (1995 2007)

Pelagic ecosystem Chl a

n

Distribution and abundance of Chl-a (primary producer)

South
5 0
0.38
0.34

North
7 8 9 Latitude ( N) 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

West
Longitude ( W) 136 0
0.34

East
134 133 132 131 130 129 128

135

50

0.30 0.26

50

0.30 0.26

Depth (m)

Depth (m)

0.22

0.22

100
0.18 0.14

100

0.18 0.14

150

0.10 0.06

150

0.10 0.06

Chl.-a (mg/l)
200

0.02

Chl (ug/l)
200

0.02

Latitudinal vertical distribution of Chl-a in surface mixed-layer(2003)

Longitudinal vertical distribution of Chl-a in surface mixed-layer(2004)

Primary Production(mgC/m /day)
700 600 500 400 300 200 136 134 131.3
2

Longitude( W)

130

128

Latitudinal distribution of primary production(2003)

Longitudinal distribution of primary production(2004)

Pelagic ecosystem - zooplankton

n

Composition and abundance of zooplankton (2005)

Surface mixed layer

surface mixed layer

70,000 60,000
3

Larvae 4.1% Thaliaceans 1.7% Appendicularians 7.6%

Others 4.3%

Foraminiferans & Radiolarians 10.3%

Siphonophores 2.3% Chaetognaths 6.6%

indivisuals/100 m

50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 0 1N 2N 4N 5N 6N 7N 9N 10N 10.5N 11N 12N

Ostracods 7.9%

Copepods 55.3%

lower layer
18,000 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 0 2N 4N 5N 6N 7N 9N 10N 10.5N 11N 12N

Others Larvae Thaliaceans Appendicularians Copepods Ostracods Chaetognaths Siphonophores Foraminiferans & Radiolarians
Larvae 3.5% Thaliaceans 1.4% Appendicularians 3.3%

Lower layer
Others 4.1%

Foraminiferans & Radiolarians 12.2%

Siphonophores 1.7%

Chaetognaths 5.3% Ostracods 7.1%

Copepods 61.3%

Latitudinal distribution of mesozooplankton abundance in surface mixed layer and lower layer

Percentage of taxonomic groups in mesozooplankton at surface mixed layer and lower layer

Benthic ecosystem - meiofauna

n

Species composition and abundance of meiofauna (2003)

Latitudinal abundance of dominant meiofauna groups

50 45 40

Nematodes

Harpacticoids

Nauplius

Tardigrades

Others

Abundance(Ind./10 )

35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 St.1 St.2 St.5 St.7 St.9 St.11 St.15 St.17 St.19 St.21 St.23 St.25 St.27 St.29 St.30

Comparison of abundance of total meiofauna in the KR5 area

Major meiofauna taxa in the KR5 area (A: Desmoscolex sp. (Nematodes), B: Tricoma sp. (Nematodes), C: Harpacticoid copepods, D: Tardigrada)

Benthic ecosystem - macrofauna

n

Species composition and abundance of macrofauna (2003)

500

Number of individual(/0.06m 2)

400

Other Nematoda Foraminifera

300

200

Actinaria

Foraminifera

Deep-sea cucumber

100

12
o

13

14

17

Latitude( N)

Latitudinal abundance of dominant macrofauna groups

Isopoda

Polychaeta

Macrura

Ophiuroidea

Ostracoda

Sea Anemone

According to these biological results, the distribution of zooplankton and According to these biological results, the distribution of zooplankton and benthos is mainly affected by their food source (the surface primary benthos is mainly affected by their food source (the surface primary production). production).

Photographic examination - megafauna

n

The photographs of megafauna obtained by deep-sea camera (2008)

Observation of species in the substrate at each photographing line

Species and Lines in KR5 Sea cucumber Sea anemone Sea star Sea pen DSC08-01 * * * * * * * * * * * DSC08-02 * * * * * * * * * *

Fish

Sea anemone

Fish Fish
Bivalve Crustacean Faecal cast Phytodetritus Burrow openings Locomotion trace

Crustacean & Bivalve

Sea Cucumber

Sea Star

Jellyfish

Sediment properties
Sediment type characteristics in relation to latitude (2003)

Latitudinal variation of sediment types in the study area

Particle Mass flux

n

Long-term monitoring (at KOMO St.) of the particle mass flux using sediment trap (2003-2009)

The monthly variation of total mass flux (grey bar) was well matched with Chl-a concentration (green circle), and the mass flux also showed a seasonal variation. The moderate El Nio was accompanied by a significant reduction in total mass flux, and the opposite trend was observed for the moderate La Nia.

Summary
u

Seasonal and interannual variation of physico-chemical properties have been detected in our study area. Strong spatial heterogeneity of pelagic and benthic community were found and benthic production were well coupled with pelagic production. Particle mass flux was well correlated with surface primary production, particularly during episodic events. All of the result of baseline study not only provide useful information for the formulation of the mining code of the ISA but also necessary to support the stable deep-sea mining.

Case study 2
Sulfide Deposits Mining Program in the Southwest Pacific & Central Indian Ridge

2. Sulfide Deposits Mining Program (SDMP)

Objective - To examine the tectonic properties of the active hydrothermal site and establish the mining site of the sulfide deposits in the southwest Pacific and Indian Ocean Summary - This research program started from 2000 & to be continued. - Research mainly focused on the submarine hydrothermal system in the study area (ex. Towing CTD-TOYO) - Environmental monitoring study was also conducted to provide the basis for understanding the existing environment

Hydrothermal vents
Comparison of the composition of a typical Mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal vent fluid on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MARK), 21 N East Pacific Rise and Southern Juan de Fuca Ridge.
SW Temp. pH SO42- (mM) H2S (uM) Ca (uM) Mg (mM) 2 7.8 26.1 0 10.2 52.7 0.14 0.01 0.001 40 uM 0.16 0 0.001 9.8 < 5 pM 23.6 18.2 491 2180 MARK 350 3.9 0 5.9 9.9 0 EPR 21 N 351 3.4 0 7.3 15.6 0 8 5 1664 0 17.6 1,024 1.6 23.2 90 pM 51.6 23.3 3,585 3585 Juan de Fuca 224-285 3.2 0 3.5 96.4 0

Schematic diagram of a hydrothermal plume and the underlying hydrothermal system at a ridge crest spreading center. Note the warm and high-temp. vent sources, buoyant plume, neutrally buoyant proximal plume, and the discontinuous distal plume (from Massoth et al. 1988)

Ba (uM) Al (uM) Fe (uM) NO3 (uM) Si (mM) Mn (uM) CH4 (mM) K ATP

Active hydrothermal vent area: Mid ocean ridge, Back-arc basin, Rifted arcs, Volcanoes (Tivey 2007)

Study area

Indian Ocean South Pacific Ocean

Back-arc spreading

Mid Ocean Ridge

 Research Equipments

Proxima (for Nutrients)

CTD-casting

CTD-TOYO

GC/SCD (for Methane)

MAPR

Single and multi-beam echosounder Luminometer (for ATP)

Plume detection and monitoring

* Controlled by Traction Winch, * Body weight : 700 kg, with Sea-Bird's 911plus CTD * Sensor : Primary & Secondary Transmissometer, Depth, T, S, Altimeter, Fluorometer * H/W : IBM 586 computer, Traction Winch Controller TW start * S/W : Seasoft program Winch(m)
TOYO CTD(m)

Schematic diagram of towing

R/V

bathy distance

Anomaly of light transmission

Case study 2- Results

Plume detection - Lau Basin

CTD-TOYO (KORDI)

Plume detection - Lau Basin

MAPR
(Miniature Autonomous Plume Recorder, NOAA)

Plume detection by water sampling with CTD

Continuous survey : Temp., Salinity, DO, Transparency
76 80 84 88 92 96 2.8 3.2 3.6 900 4 4.4 4.8

Transparency (%)

Temperature (oC)

H2S

Effluent layer
1100

Depth (m)

A
Temperature

A
1100 1120
Depth (m)

Temp. ( C) 3.6 3.8 4

1300 Transparency

1140 1160 1180 1200

Predicted temperature

Measured temperature

Increased temperature anomaly

1500 0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6

H2S (mM)

CTD

Vertical profiles of T, S, DO and Tr.

Biogeochemical tracers in water sample

Plume detection - Central Indian Ridge

Detected anomaly conc. of NH4, ATP, and Methane

34

Plume detection - Central Indian Ridge

Potential mining impacts

(From Nautilus)

Implication to Environmetal study

u u u

Define the existing environment before mining Evaluate impacts of mining activity to environment Develop strategies to minimize mining impacts

Thank you !