Oceanography in the BGR exploration area for polymetallic nodules in the eastern low-latitude Pacific ...

• Main Author: Schneider, Niklas
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources 2016
• Subjects: Antarctic; Pacific; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25928/ea0m-rw97; https://www.bgr.bund.de/10_25928_ea0m-rw97

In the eastern tropical Pacific the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources of Germany (BGR) maintains two license areas, W and E, centered on 137.9 W, 12.5 N and 117.8 W, 12.14 N, respectively, for the exploration of polymetallic nodules resources. This report summarizes oceanic conditions in these regions using ocean reanalyses of historical data, both statistical and via data assimilation, estimates of mean sea surface height, as well as observations obtained during cruise of the BGR. The license areas are located at the equatorward edge of the westward flowing, shallow, surface trapped North Equatorial current. Water temperatures reach as high as 27◦ C and salinity as low as 33.9psu in the shallow mixed layer with an average depth of 30m. The thermo- and haloclines are sharp, and separate the surface layers from cooler, saltier waters, that are devoid of oxygen to a depth of 700m to 900m. These overly Pacific Intermediate waters, the deeper Antarctic Intermediate water and Lower ...