RV SONNE Expedition SO268

Introduction to MiningImpact and expedition SO268

Description:

This video was filmed during the research cruise SO268-2 with RV SONNE from
April to May 2019 The expedition is integrated into the second phase of the European JPI-Oceans joint project MiningImpact, which investigates the ecological impacts of deep-sea mining.

(Video: Steffen Niemann, Copyright: GEOMAR)

Plume monitoring

Description:

Dr. Henko de Stigter and Sabine Haalboom (both Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, NIOZ) talk about their sensor-based research on the distribution and impacts of the sediment plume created by manganese nodule mining collectors moving on the deep seabed.

(Video: Steffen Niemann; Interviews: Kristin Hamann; Edits: Luise Heinrich; Copyright: GEOMAR)

Biological research

Description:

Dr. Frank Wenzhöfer and Dr. Julia Otte (both Alfred-Wegener-Institute, Helmholtz-Centre for Polar and Marine Research, AWI and Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, MPI) talk about their research biogeochemical processes, ecosystem functioning, and microbiological diversity in the sediment of the deep-sea to better understand how these might be affected by deep-sea mining.

(Video: Steffen Niemann; Interviews: Kristin Hamann; Edits: Luise Heinrich; Copyright: GEOMAR)

Description:

Dr. Ana Hilario (University of Aveiro, Portugal) talks about her work onboard the German research vessel SONNE (SO268). As part of the MiningImpact project, she studies connectivity patterns and reproductive ecology of different invertebrate species.

(Video: Steffen Niemann; Interviews: Kristin Hamann; Edits: Luise Heinrich; Copyright: GEOMAR)

Description:

Dr. Freija Hauquier (Ghent University, Belgium) talks about her work onboard the German research vessel SONNE (SO268). As part of the MiningImpact project, she studied the diversity and connectivity of meiofauna species in the deep-sea to better understand how they might be affected by deep-sea mining.

(Video: Steffen Niemann; Interviews: Kristin Hamann; Edits: Luise Heinrich; Copyright: GEOMAR)

 

Restoration experiment

Description:

Coral Diaz-Recio Lorenzo (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, NIOZ) talks about the beginnings of a nodule restoration experiment in the deep-sea she undertook on behalf of Dr. Sabine Gollner (NIOZ). The experiment aims at exploring the possibility of facilitating the re-colonization of mining sites by placing artificial nodules on the seabed.

(Video: Steffen Niemann; Interviews: Kristin Hamann; Edits: Luise Heinrich; Copyright: GEOMAR)

Geochemical research

Description:

Dr. Katja Schmidt (Federal Institute for Geosciences and Resources, BGR), Dr. Sophie Paul (Jacobs University Bremen, JUB), and Dr. Jessica Volz (Alfred-Wegener-Institute, Helmholtz-Centre for Polar and Marine Research, AWI) talk about their work onboard the German research vessel SONNE (SO268). As part of the MiningImpact project, they study biogeochemical processes with a focus on metals and nutrients at the sediment-water interface and in the overlying water column.

(Video: Steffen Niemann; Interviews: Kristin Hamann; Edits: Luise Heinrich; Copyright: GEOMAR)

MiningImpact2

MiningImpact 2 “Impacts and Risks of Deep-Sea Mining” (2018-2022, funded by JPI-Oceans) is the second phase of the MiningImpact project. It studies the (1) the larger scale environmental impact caused by the suspended sediment plume, (2) the regional connectivity of species and the biodiversity of biological assemblages and their resilience to impacts, and (3) the integrated effects on ecosystem functions, such as the benthic food web and biogeochemical processes. The project consortium comprises 29 research institutions from 9 European countries and the International Seabed Authority based in Kingston, Jamaica. Please see here for more information about MiningImpact

Expedition SO242

Description:

This video shows impressions of RV SONNE expedition SO242 (2015) to the DISCOL experimental site in the Peru Basin. The DIS-turbance and re-COLonization Experiment carried out in 1989 simulated deep-sea mining by creating a larger number of dredge tracks on the seabed to study if and to what extent the ecosystems in the area would recover and fauna would re-colonize the area. Against this background, RV SONNE expedition SO242 aimed for very detailed acoustic and visual mapping, using the AUV Abyss. Sediment samples were taken to investigate the geochemical differences and long-term changes between disturbed and undisturbed areas. Moreover, biological sampling and detailed image analyses of the living fauna were used to compare the 'state of the environment' and the recovery 26 years after the initial disturbance. See here for more info about MiningImpact-Phase 1.

(Copyright: GEOMAR)

Expedition SO239

Description:

This video shows impressions of RV SONNE expedition SO239 (2015) to the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Central Pacific Ocean. The aim of the expedition was to 1) study biological communities at and in the seafloor, 2) monitor physical and chemical conditions , and 3) perform geochemical investigations in the sediment. The video shows the deep seabed and seafloor ecosystems before and after disturbance. See here for more info about MiningImpact-Phase1.

(Copyright: GEOMAR)