Key points
- CSA Ocean Sciences deployed three moorings in NORI’s exploration area, the longest reaching about 4,000 meters, with the others at 500 meters and 32 meters, to track seasonal water conditions.
- A 24-bottle water sampling carousel is lowered to about 4,200 meters, collecting samples at 16 depths and recording CTD, dissolved oxygen, pH, redox and current data.
- Sediment traps on the moorings measure particle flux from the surface to the seafloor to establish a baseline against future mining impacts, while acoustic sensors record ambient noise and marine mammal activity.
- The data feeds a model of subsea currents and conditions meant to inform NORI’s environmental impact assessment before mining starts; chief scientist Chris Kelly says he has worked on the project since April 2019 with a team of seven.
