深海采矿羽状流及其监测试验综述

A Review of Deep-Sea Mining Plume Monitoring and Experiments

对深海采矿羽状流进行试验监测,是揭示深海采矿羽状流问题科学机理的重要手段之一,也是开展环境友好型深海采矿的必由之路。通过对多金属结核的采集、采集过程中羽状流的产生以及羽状流试验监测的相关研究进行概述。目前采用履带自行式和水力式采集的采矿车、管道提升系统和水面支持船的技术方案组合是最具商业化前景,也是深海采矿科学研究的重点。深海采矿产生的羽状流可以分为海底扰动羽状流和尾矿羽状流,在不同层面上会对海洋环境产生不同程度的影响,但羽状流的产生源头是矿车对海底沉积物的扰动,环境友好型矿车的研发是解决羽状流对环境影响的根本手段。实验室监测和原位监测应并行互补,且在原位监测时要兼顾监测底栖生物的活动,为深海多金属结核采集过程对海洋环境影响的评估提供更全面的参考;同时深海采矿相关活动过程中的原位监测应被广泛重视,这对深海采矿以及未来潜在的海底未来资源开采要求的环境影响评估均具有重要意义。

Conducting experimental monitoring of plume flows in deep-sea mining is one of the important means to reveal the scientific mechanisms behind this issue and is also essential for conducting environmentally friendly deep-sea mining.an overview of the collection of polymetallic nodules is provided,the generation of plume flows during collection,and relevant research on experimental monitoring of plume flows.Currently,the most commercially promising technical solution for deep-sea mining includes a combination of tracked self-propelled and hydraulic mining vehicles,pipeline lifting systems,and surface support vessels,which also constitutes a focal point of scientific research in deep-sea mining.Plume flows generated by deep-sea mining can be classified into seabed disturbance plume flows and tailings plume flows,which can have varying degrees of impact on the marine environment at different levels.However,the source of plume flow generation is the disturbance of seabed sediments by mining vehicles,and the development of environmentally friendly mining vehicles is fundamental to addressing the environmental impact of plume flows.Laboratory monitoring and in-situ monitoring should complement each other,and in-situ monitoring should also consider monitoring the activities of benthic organisms to provide a more comprehensive reference for assessing the impact of deep-sea polymetallic nodule collection on the marine environment.At the same time,in-situ monitoring during deep-sea mining-related activities should be widely emphasized,as it is of great significance for assessing the environmental impact of deep-sea mining and potential future seabed resource exploitation requirements.