Prediction of Fate of Resuspended Sediment in the Development of Deep-sea Mineral Resources

심해저 자원 개발과정에서 재부유 퇴적물 입자의 동태 예측에 관한 연구

This study presents a modeling method to predict fate of resuspended sediment in the development of deep-sea mineral resources. Resuspended deep-sea sediment during the development is considered a major environmental problem. In order to quantitatively analyze the resuspended sediment in the water column, particle size distribution (PSD) is considered an important factor. The model developed here includes PSD and coagulation process, as well as sedimentation process. Using the model, basic simulation was performed under representative environmental setting. The simulation showed the dynamics of change of particle size distribution for 50 m depth of water column up to 10 days of simulation time. Coagulation seemed an important factor in the fate of resuspended deep-sea sediment.