• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.45-50
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• 2002

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.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.9-22
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• 2021

We determined the composition of water and sediment bacterial assemblages from the East Sea using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Total bacterial reads were greater in surface waters (<100 m) than in deep seawaters (>500 m) and sediments. However, total OTUs, bacterial diversity, and evenness were greater in deep seawaters than in surface waters with those in the sediment comparable to the deep sea waters. Proteobacteria was the most dominant bacterial phylum comprising 67.3% of the total sequence reads followed by Bacteriodetes (15.8%). Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia, and Actinobacteria followed all together consisting of only 8.1% of the total sequence. Candidatus Pelagibacter ubique considered oligotrophic bacteria, and Planctomycetes copiotrophic bacteria showed an opposite distribution in the surface waters, suggesting a potentially direct competition for available resources by these bacteria with different traits. The bacterial community in the warm surface waters were well separated from the other deep cold seawater and sediment samples. The bacteria exclusively associated with deep sea waters was Actinobacteriacea, known to be prevalent in the deep photic zone. The bacterial group Chromatiales and Lutibacter were those exclusively associated with the sediment samples. The overall bacterial community showed similarities in the horizontal rather than vertical direction in the East Sea.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.142-148
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• 1998

Environmental baseline information is necessary in order to assess the potential environmental impact of future manganese-nodule mining on the deep-seabed ecosystem. Total ATP (T-ATP), dissolved ATP (D-ATP) and particulate ATP (P-ATP) were measured to estimate total microbial biomass and to elucidate their vertical distribution patterns in the seabed of KODOS (Korea Deep Ocean Study) area, northeast equatorial Pacific Ocean. Within the upper 6 cm depth of sediment, the concentrations of T-ATP, D-ATP and P-ATP ranged from 4.4 to 40.6, from 0.6 to 16.1, and from 3.0 to 29.2 ng/g dry sediment, respectively. Approximately 84% of T-ATP, 81% of D-ATP, and 74% of P-ATP were present within the topmost 2 cm depth of sediment, and the distributions of ATP were well correlated with water content in the sediment. These results indicate that the distribution of total microbial biomass was largely determined by the supply of organic matter from surface water column. Fine-scale vertical variations of ATP were detected within 1-cm thick veneer of the sediment samples collected by multiple corer, while no apparent vertical changes were observed in the box-cored samples. It is evident that the box-core samples were disturbed extensively during sampling, which suggests that the multiple corer is a more appropriate sampling gear for measuring fine-scale vertical distribution pattern of ATP within thin sediment veneer. Overall results suggest that the concentrations of ATP, given their clear changes in vertical distribution pattern within 6 cm depth of sediment, are a suitable environmental baseline parameter in evaluating the variations of benthic microbial biomass that are likely to be caused by deep-seabed mining operation.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.265-272
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate the community structure and distributional pattern of meiobenthos in the deep-sea bottom of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone of northeastern Pacific during July 2001. Examination of sediment samples collected on the eight survey station showed that there were 10 different types of meiobenthos. The most abundant meiobenthic animals were nematodes in all stations. Sarcomastigophorans, benthic harpacticoids were next abundant meiobenthos. Vertical distribution of meiobenthic animals showed the highest individual numbers in the surface sediment layers of 0-1 cm depth and showed more steep decreasing trend as sediment gets deeper on the stations of high latitude located in $16-17^{\circ}N$. Horizontal distribution of meiobenthic animal in the study area within CCFZ showed high densities of meiobenthos at the stations had few manganese nodules on their sediment surface in the site of low latitude. For size distribution analyses showed that animals which fit into the sieve mesh size of 0.063 mm were abundant.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.39 no.spc1
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• pp.203-213
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• 2006

The spatial patterns of meiobenthic communities in deep-sea sediment were examined. Sediment samples for analyzing of meiobenthic community structure were collected using a remote operated vehicle (ROV), multiple corer TV grab at 20 stations at five sites. In all, 15 meiofauna groups were recorded. Nematodes were the most abundant taxon. Benthic foraminiferans, harpacticoid copepods, polychaetes, and crustacean naupii were also dominant groups at all sites. The total meiofauna density at the study sites varied from 49 to 419 ind./$10cm^2$. The maximum density was recorded at a site located in Challenger Deep in the Mariana trench where simple benthic foraminifera with organic walls flourish. These distinctive taxa seem to be characteristic of the deepest ocean depths. Active hydrothermal sediments contain up to 150 harpacticoid copepods per $10cm^2$ of sediment. In a inactive ridge sediments, devoid of macrofaunal organisms:, the abundance of harpacticoid copepods never exceeded 15 ind./$10cm^2$. Multivariate analysis (multidimensional scaling) revealed significant differences in community structure among the three regions; near an active hydrothermal vent, in the deepest ocean depths and at typical deep-sea bed sites.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.133-145
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• 2003

Deep-sea surface sediments were collected using a multiple corer at 20 stations of Clarion-Clipperton fracture zone in the northeast equatorial Pacific to understand latitudinal and longitudinal variations of geotechnical properties. There was a distinct latitudinal variation of geotechnical properties in the study area. The northern sediments showed finer grain size, lower water content and porosity, higher bulk density and specific grain density, lower liquid limits and plastic limits than their southern counterparts. The northern sediments are classified into inorganic clays of low plasticity (fat clays) on plasticity charts and normal to active clay on activity chart, whereas, the southern sediments are classified into fine-grained, highly-plastic, inorganic and biogenic silt or organic clays on plasticity chart and normal to very active clay on activity chart. When shear strength are considered, the northern sediments were found to be in unconsolidated states, while the southern ones to be normal to over-consolidated states. These latitudinal variations in sediment characteristics are likely caused by differences in productivity of surface water that controls sediment compositions, sedimentation rates, and grain solubility.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.475-484
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• 2006

In order to reveal the vertical variation of physical properties in deep-sea sediments, deep-sea sediment cores were collected at 78 stations using a multiple corer in the KR5 area, one of the Korea contract areas for manganese nodule exploration, located in the northeast equatorial Pacific. Based on the color of sediments, sampled sediment cores were characterized into three lithologic units (unit 1,2, and 3). In all sediment cores, three units appear systematically; unit 1 lies at the top of cores and unit 2 and/or unit 3 appear to underlie unit 1 or alternate with unit 3. Unit 1 layer from the top of cores shows dark grayish brown to dark brown with mean thickness of 10.2cm. Unit 2 and 3 layers show very dark brown to black color and yellowish brown to brown color, respectively. According to the physical properties of the deep-sea sediment cores, sediment column can be divided into three sections. Section A $(0{\sim}15cm)$ in subbottom depth consists mostly of unit 1. Mean values of physical properties of section B $(15{\sim}30cm)$ in subbottom depth are similar to those of section C (>30 cm) in subbottom depth. However, the physical properties of section B were more variable than those of section C because of the high activity of bioturbation in section B. These results will provide valuable information for selecting suitable sites for mining manganese nodules in the Korea contract areas.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 2014

In August, 2013, we collected epifaunal megabenthos using a deep sea camera (DSC) around a benthic impact study (BIS) site. This was located in the KR5 block of the Korea Deep Ocean Study (KODOS) area in the Northeastern Pacific. The DSC was positioned at $6.8{\pm}2.9m$ (SD) from the sea bottom and was operated from a position at $131^{\circ}56.85^{\prime}-131^{\circ}55.02^{\prime}W$ for 2.3 h at a speed of 1-2 knot. The geographical features of the study area consisted of two structures; a trough in the middle and hills at the east and west sides. Sediment conditions were consistent within six blocks and were affected by slope and polymetallic nodule deposits. We analyzed 226 megafaunal species. Sipunculida comprised the highest percentage of individuals (39%), and the dominant epifaunal megabenthos were Hormathiidae sp., Primnoidae sp., Hexactinellida sp., Hyphalaster inermis, Freyella benthophila, Paelopatides confundens, Psychropotes longicauda, and Peniagone leander. More than 80% of the total density of megafauna occurred on sea plain (D- and E-blocks). We found two distinct groups in the community, one located on sea plains and the other along both sides of the sea slop. Our results suggest that geographical features such as slope and polymetalic nodule deposits are important in controlling the distribution of the epifaunal megabenthos around the KODOS area.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.529-543
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• 2003

Deep-sea surface sediments, acquired from 1997 to 2002 in the Clarion-Clipperton fracture zone of the northeast equatorial Pacific, were analyzed for index and geotechnical properties to provide background information for the design of manganese nodule minor. The sediments were classified into 16 types based on the measured properties and evaluated in terms of miner maneuverabillity and potential environmental impacts arising from mining activities. It was found that the middle part of the study area covered with coarse siliceous sediments is more favorable to the commercial production than the northern part of pelagic red clay. In particular, Area B2 in the middle part is considered the best mining site since it shows the highest abundance as well as it consists mostly of normally to over consolidated (types B, C, D) coarse siliceous sediments that are appropriate for effective minor movement and accompany weak environmental impacts. Taking account of all the analyzed core logs, the average shear-strength values are proposed as a practical guideline fur movements of a manganese nodule miner: 6.0 kPa at 10cm and 7.0kPa at 40cm below the seabed.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.255-267
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• 2004

Deep-sea surface sediments acquired by multiple corer from 69 stations in the Clarion-Clipperton fracture zone of the northeast equatorial Pacific, were analyzed for shear strength properties to understand sedimentological process. The pelagic red clay from northern part of study area shows low average shear strength(4.4 kPa), while the siliceous sediment from middle area shows high(6.3 kPa). The calcareous sediment from southern area shows very low average shear strength(3.4 kPa), and transitional sediment between middle and southern area shows intermediate value(3.8 kPa) between siliceous and calcareous sediment. The depth profiles of average shear strength of pelagicred clay show gradual increment with depth due to decrease of water content with depth by general consolidation process. On the other, abrupt increment of average shear strength with depth in siliceous sediment is related to sedimentary hiatus. The very low shear strength in calcareous sediment is linked to very high sedimentation rate ofsouthern area compared with other study area.