Earth metals and minerals are extracted from the seabed. This is due to an increase in demand for batteries for electric cars. Companies and countries extract valuable ores from the depths. This has a significant negative impact on the marine environment. Consequently, commercial efforts have been delayed for several reasons. They include massive initial capital and a lack of regulations.
Existing land mining has exhausted mineral reserves. It has also resulted in increased investment and overharvesting of our oceans in search of additional minerals. Additional research and patience are required to comprehend the ramifications of deep-sea mining fully. Moreover, the potential consequences are alarming enough to warrant further investigation. This will help save our oceans and the marine life that inhabits them.
Understanding the Impacts of Deep-sea Mining
The deep-sea environment, particularly microorganisms, is little understood. On the other hand, it is easy to comprehend that they play an essential role in its ecology. According to recent research, benthic bacteria trap 200 million tons of carbon dioxide into the biomass each year. Furthermore, the microbial populations in these deep-sea environments are diverse. Therefore, it is vital to understand the consequences.
Because of their tremendous adaptability, deep-sea microorganisms are challenging to culture. The loss of these and other ecosystem services results from habitat destruction. Asides from that, drag tracks on the seafloor create artificial disruptions. These tracks can still be seen, according to a long-term effect study. The microbial communities, as well as the benthic creatures, have yet to recuperate from the disturbance.
What lurks beneath the waves?
As per the research, Nodule mining has a variety of environmental hazards. Specifically, polymetallic nodules are essential for the survival of deep-sea reefs, crabs, sea anemones. They include starfish, octopus, jellyfish, shrimp, prawns, and sea urchins. Deep-sea ecosystems and species take a long time to develop. As a result, full recovery following mining could take hundreds, if not millions, of years.
According to the research, mining debris and sediment plumes might disrupt phytoplankton blooms at the sea’s surface. As mining waste flows through the water, toxic metals get into the marine food chains, causing damage to surrounding seamounts and coral reef systems. They provide shelter and food for numerous fish and marine animal species. Also, it puts the entire ecosystem at risk.
Who will be the keepers of the ocean?
Another major concern is the absence of oversight of deep-sea mining. Also, the practicalities of dealing with any issues that arise. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) was created to oversee and control deep-sea mining in international waters. In the deep ocean, on the other hand, observation is difficult. On land, there are a variety of options for seeing what’s going on.
The corporation has invested in “a suite of technologies,” including sensors and underwater drones. This is to allow it to monitor mining activity in real-time and minimize the risk. However, even with technology to assist them, mining corporations lack the expertise to safely cope with difficulties many kilometers underwater. Moreover, there is no precedent for dealing with unexpected consequences under the water.
The loss of marine environment habitats
Deep-sea mining has the potential to put entire species on the verge of extinction. This is due to the fact that the machines in use are not environmentally friendly. This has an impact on food chains and nutrient cycles that begin in the ocean’s depths. Thus, if one ocean species perishes, it will directly affect all the species relying on it.
So, what are we going to do about it?
We can all do our part to reduce our personal battery performance. Every region has its own legislation on battery disposal. Therefore, it means that you can reuse your batteries no matter where you reside. Another excellent option is to convert to rechargeable batteries. Panasonic, for example, has produced a range of lengthy and reusable rechargeable batteries to help solve the problem.
Educate and conserve the oceans
We should ask for a ten-year embargo on deep-sea mining to do research on its effects. More people and groups must join together to advocate for the moratorium in order for this to be achievable. Our purchasing habits have an influence on the products and operations of deep-sea mining firms and corporations. As a result, the impact will be significantly reduced.
If everyone is saying something, it isn’t noise. As a society, we also tend to buy the newest phones as soon as they are available. Our practice encourages firms to keep releasing new phones, resulting in a battery market. Instead, we should use our phones until they are no longer functional, then recycle them. Let’s get started on establishing sustainable practices.
Final verdict on impacts on marine environment
Deep-sea drilling appears to be a distant issue. However, the goods that require these minerals from the deep sea are things that we use often. In addition, deep-sea mining has an impact on the ocean’s depths. Therefore, this could affect all aquatic life inside the mining levels. The consequences might be disastrous, as it has the potential to disrupt entire ecosystems.
Enhanced Weathering
Also called carbon mineralization, enhanced weathering is a process that solidifies C02. With this solution, certain rocks will be exposed to atmospheric C02. These rocks absorb the gas and turn it into a solid mineral like carbonate. This measure is crucial because it will store the carbon permanently. It can’t convert back to its gaseous state and re-enter the earth’s atmosphere.
Bio-energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)
Bio-energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) is a process that involves obtaining bioenergy from biomass and sequestering the extracted carbon. It is essentially another carbon storage method that stems from photosynthesis. In short, the carbon that was once held in living organisms is released and then captured into a storage location. Facilities that employ BECCS have recorded substantial results so far.
Sectors that use BECCS
Most companies using BECCS are in the industrial, energy, or transportation sectors. Some industries that release carbon as a by-product of their manufacturing processes use BECCS to store it. For instance, substantial tons of CO2 is captured and sequestered from ethanol plants using the BECCS process. The recycling industry also embraces this storage solution as most of its materials contain carbon.
BECCS plays a vital role in the energy sector because C02 is usually emitted as a byproduct in most of their procedures. Thus, having access to a capture and storage technology intercepting the release of the gas into the atmosphere is vital. In addition to this, the transportation sector uses captured, and stored carbon is to make efficient and cost-effective biofuels.
Conclusion
As the years go by, carbon levels in the atmosphere increase due to human activities like burning fossil fuels and natural processes like volcanic eruptions. This can lead to global warming and severe health complications. Luckily, we can control this problem by finding practical solutions. This guide has discussed helpful tips that we can use to remove carbon from the sky.
