Ocean and Polar Research

Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (한국해양과학기술원)
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Evaluation of Similarity of Water Column Properties and Sinking Particles between Impact and Preserved Sites for Environmental Impact Assessment in the Korea Contracted Area for Manganese Nodule Development, NE Pacific

북동태평양 한국 망간단괴 광구해역에서 환경충격 시험지역과 보존지역간의 수층환경 및 침강입자 플럭스 유사성 비교

  • Son, Juwon (Deep-sea and Seabed Mineral Resources Research Center, KIOST) ;
  • Kim, Kyeong Hong (Deep-sea and Seabed Mineral Resources Research Center, KIOST) ;
  • Kim, Hyung Jeek (Deep-sea and Seabed Mineral Resources Research Center, KIOST) ;
  • Ju, Se-Jong (Deep-sea and Seabed Mineral Resources Research Center, KIOST) ;
  • Yoo, Chan Min (Deep-sea and Seabed Mineral Resources Research Center, KIOST)
  • 손주원 (한국해양과학기술원 심해저광물자원연구센터) ;
  • 김경홍 (한국해양과학기술원 심해저광물자원연구센터) ;
  • 김형직 (한국해양과학기술원 심해저광물자원연구센터) ;
  • 주세종 (한국해양과학기술원 심해저광물자원연구센터) ;
  • 유찬민 (한국해양과학기술원 심해저광물자원연구센터)
  • Received : 2014.09.28
  • Accepted : 2014.12.03
  • Published : 2014.12.30
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Abstract

Verifying the similarity of environmental characteristics between an artificial impact site and a preserved or reference site is necessary to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the environmental impact of mining activity. Although an impact site (BIS station) and a preserved site (called KOMO station) that have been selected in the Korea manganese nodule contract area may share similar environmental characteristics, similarities in terms of the water column environment between both sites has not been investigated. In this study, we compared the chemical properties of the water columns and sinking particle fluxes between BIS and KOMO stations through two observations (August 2011 and September 2012). Additionally, we observed particle fluxes at the KOMO station for five years (July 2003~July 2008) to understand long-term natural variability. Vertical distributions of water column properties such as dissolved oxygen, inorganic nutrients (N, P, Si), total organic carbon below surface layer (within the depth range of 200 m) were not considerably different between the two sites. Especially, values of water column parameters in the abyssopelagic zone from 4000 m to bottom layer (~5000 m) were very similar between the BIS and KOMO sites. Sinking particle fluxes from the two sites also showed similar seasonality. However, natural variation of particle flux at the KOMO site varied from 3.5 to $129.9mg\;m^{-2}day^{-1}$, with a distinct temporal variation originating from ENSO events (almost forty times higher than a minimum value). These results could provide valuable information to more exactly evaluate the environmental impact of mining activity on water columns.

Keywords

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