海底熱水鉱床における環境影響予測·評価のための手法開発

摘要

Based on information from an environmental baseline survey that was conducted to collect physical, chemical and biological data around the proposed mining area of seafloor massive sulfides (SMS) in Japan, we have designed and developed a numerical simulation model to assess the environ-mental impact of the mining. The model comprises three submodels: an ecosystem model for the benthic layer; an ecosystem model for the epipelagic and mesopelagic layers; and a hydrodynamic model. The benthic layer model can predict quantitatively the magnitude and extent of impacts from mining activities on the deep-sea benthic ecosystem in both the hydrothermally active and non-active areas. The pelagic model can simulate the impact of discharged water on the phytoplankton and zooplankton communities. The hydrodynamic model is the basis of all the models as it predicts advection and diffusion.