Measuring the environmental effect of marine mining |
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| Authors: | Cruickshank M |
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| Institution: | U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA, USA; |
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| Abstract: | Marine mining may disturb the natural marine environment-solids, fluids, or organisms-by removal of materials, addition of foreign material, in-place mixing of existing material, or removal and subsequent replacement of material. Measuring the scope of such disturbances, of course, requires knowing the environmental conditions both before and after mining. Scientists disagree on what constitutes an adequate knowledge of baseline (premining) conditions, and instrumentation and techniques for measuring are not yet satisfactory. A wide range of instrumentation is necessary to measure the many physical, chemical, and biological factors involved. Some measurements must span enough time to encompass natural cyclic changes, but such long-term measurements are hampered by the lack of reliable submersible instrumentation. Inadequacy of measurement capability, for technical or economic reasons or both, is particularly evident regarding dispersion of fine solids and dissolved chemicals in mid-water and benthic layers and, to a lesser extent, in the surface layer of seawater. Especially difficult to measure or predict is the biological effect of mining. The most significant changes may be induced subsequent to the mining operation and may be some distance from it. Secondary effects resulting from these changes may not be obvious, but it is important that they be identified so that predictions can be made for other operations. Planned experiments to improve capability for prediction of effects should reduce the variety of measurement required. Many investigators fail to recognize the value of existing data banks, which consequently receive insufficient institutional financial support. |
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