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Clarion Clipperton Zone

All articles tagged with #clarion clipperton zone

science15 days ago•6 min saved

New Deep-Sea Evolutionary Branch Found as Mining Push Advances

Scientists identify 24 new deep-sea species and a new superfamily in the Clarion Clipperton Zone, underscoring how a regulatory gap and NOAA’s fast-tracked mining permits could threaten unknown life as commercial extraction expands; naming these species provides them a “passport for living” in scientific discourse, but most CCZ species remain unnamed, complicating policy decisions amid observed environmental costs from early mining tests.

via Inside Climate News|

#clarion-clipperton-zone #deep-sea-biodiversity #deep-sea-mining

science16 days ago•4 min saved

Twenty-four new amphipods, including a new family and superfamily, found in the central Pacific's deep sea

Researchers describe 24 new amphipod species from the central Pacific's Clarion-Clipperton Zone, including a previously unknown family (Mirabestiidae) and a new superfamily (Mirabestioidea), plus two new genera. The work, part of the International Seabed Authority's SSKI One Thousand Reasons initiative, used collaborative taxonomy workshops and produced the first molecular barcodes for several species. The findings underscore the CCZ's largely undocumented biodiversity and suggest that, at current rates, eastern CCZ could be nearly fully cataloged within a decade, highlighting the importance of global collaboration for conservation and policy.

via ScienceDaily|

#amphipods #biodiversity #clarion-clipperton-zone

science1 month ago•6 min saved

Deep-Sea Nodules May Generate Oxygen Without Sunlight

Researchers found oxygen concentrations rising inside sealed patches of seafloor more than 4,000 meters deep in the Pacific, suggesting a form of “dark oxygen” produced by electrolysis within polymetallic nodules rather than photosynthesis, a discovery with implications for ocean chemistry and debates over deep-sea mining.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#clarion-clipperton-zone #dark-oxygen #deep-sea-chemistry

science1 month ago•34 min saved

Uncharted Deep Sea Reveals Hundreds of Potential New Species

A Nature Ecology and Evolution study of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone found 4,350 seabed wildlife specimens; about 3,826 matched 788 known species, revealing over 500 potential new species and underscoring the ocean floor's hidden biodiversity as deep-sea mining expands, with researchers noting a 37% decline near mining paths and emphasizing the need to predict biodiversity loss and guide more responsible extraction.

via Yahoo|

#biodiversity #clarion-clipperton-zone #deep-sea

science2 months ago•5 min saved

Deep-Sea Mission Set to Verify Dark Oxygen From Ocean Nodules

Scientists plan two 11-km-deep landers in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone to test whether metallic seabed nodules emit oxygen, a controversial claim dubbed 'dark oxygen.' The study, which could reshape ideas about life's origins, will measure seafloor respiration and rule out buoyant air artefacts while contending with mining industry skepticism; results are expected within days of deployment, with broader analyses following the ship’s June return.

via ScienceAlert|

#clarion-clipperton-zone #dark-oxygen #deep-sea-mining

science10 months ago•3 min saved

Decades After 1979 Deep-Sea Mining, Pacific Ocean Remains Severely Damaged

A 1979 deep-sea mining experiment in the Pacific's Clarion-Clipperton Zone left lasting scars on the seafloor, with visible damage still evident 44 years later. While some small organisms are beginning to recolonize the area, the recovery of larger, stationary species is slow, raising concerns about the ecological impacts of future large-scale mining operations in this fragile ecosystem.

via Indian Defence Review|

#clarion-clipperton-zone #deep-sea-mining #ecological-impact

science-and-environment2 years ago•5 min saved

"Discovery of 'Barbie Pigs' and Other Bizarre New Species Near Deep-Sea Mining Site"

Researchers have discovered whimsical new marine life, including a bright pink 'Barbie pig' sea cucumber, near the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the deep sea, which is targeted for seabed mining due to its rich metal reserves. The project aims to develop an ecological census of the region to assess potential impacts of mining activities. The discovery of these new species, such as the 'unicumber' sea pig and the 'Rattail fish,' highlights the need for further research to understand the unique and sparse ecosystem of the CCZ.

via Daily Mail|

#clarion-clipperton-zone #deep-sea-biodiversity #ecological-impact