Continental Shelf Research ∎ (∎∎∎∎) ∎∎∎–∎∎∎
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Introduction
Geoscience and habitat mapping for marine renewable energy – Introduction to the special issue
1. Introduction Many governments have recognised the need to utilise a blend of conventional and alternative energy sources to meet future energy demands, with an increasing focus upon producing clean and renewable energy, as well as investigating the offshore geological storage of carbon dioxide. The marine environment is likely to make a significant contribution to securing the future energy needs of many countries. Seabed site characterisation constitutes a critical part of the engineering design process; it contributes also to our understanding of the potential environmental impacts of marine energy generation and carbon capture and storage. Significant infrastructure is required also to support these emerging industries, including cables and pipelines to transfer energy and carbon dioxide across the seafloor: all of these add to the environmental footprint of renewable energy development. Consequently, the development of standards and best practices, for site and submarine transmission corridor characterisation and environmental impact assessment, are important requirements in developing national and international strategies to the transition to a world of lower carbon emissions. This Special Issue represents the outcome of two workshops held as part of the GeoHab (Marine Geological and Biological Habitat Mapping, www.geohab.org/) 2011 and 2012 conferences. In May 2011, the first workshop ‘Mapping the Seafloor for Ocean Renewable Energy Development’ was hosted at the Geological Survey of Finland (en.gtk.fi/) and sponsored by the Circum-Pacific Council (www.circum-pacificcouncil.org/). The second workshop ‘Geoscience Characterisation of the Seabed for Environmental Assessment of Marine Renewable Energy Development’ was held on Orcas Island in Washington State, USA in April 2012, sponsored by the Circum-Pacific Council, Geological Survey of Canada (Natural Resources Canada, www.nrcan.gc.ca/earth-sciences) and SeaDoc Society, (www.seadocsociety.org/). The workshops brought together representatives from government, industry and academia to: engage in a discussion on how geoscience data can be used for site characterisation and environmental assessment to underpin ocean renewable energy; and develop this compilation communicating our collaborative research. The papers contained within build upon studies published in Todd and Greene (2007) and the Special Issue of Continental Shelf Research on geological and biological mapping and characterisation of benthic marine environments edited, by Heap and Harris (2011). From these workshops, 11 papers that highlight the latest research on the application of geoscience and habitat mapping, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2014.03.014 0278-4343/Crown Copyright & 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
to support marine renewable energy development and offshore storage of carbon dioxide, are presented. These papers fill ‘a knowledge gap’, using novel science to demonstrate the wide and effective application of geoscience and habitat mapping, in providing solutions for a worldwide and topical problem. As such, it is hoped that this Special Issue will be a resource that will stimulate further work. Case studies from Europe, North America and Oceania demonstrate how this research is being emplaced directly into policy development and decision-making, by governments and the energy industries.
2. The contributions the special issue The wind energy sector is well established and in expanding rapidly across Europe. An assessment of environmental impacts here provides useful insights, as this energy sector expands globally. For example, Pearce et al. discuss the applicability of using acoustic techniques: to determine and monitor the distribution of polychaete reefs; and provide a preliminary assessment of the ecological impact of a wind energy development on benthic habitats, off the east coast of England. Schlappy et al. use a combination of multibeam bathymetry and video data, from a windfarm site off western Norway, to assess the environmental conditions of an exposed rocky site. Models are developed to inform the developers of the windfarm of the potential environmental impacts. In North America, LaFrance et al. compared a “top-down” and “bottom-up” benthic habitat classification approach using two study areas offshore of Rhode Island being considered for a windfarm developments. These approaches allowed for the integration of various data at differing spatial resolutions, into habitat classes with distinct biological communities. The Bay of Fundy, Canada has the world's largest recorded tides (16.3 m) and is under development for a range of tidal energy systems. Shaw et al. describe the results of detailed mapping of morphology, texture and biota for the Bay of Fundy, at one of the most promising sites globally for tidal power. Glacial landforms and tidal scour dominate the upper bay area where the tidal systems will be placed. Todd et al. consider then the evolution and migration potential of discrete two- and three-dimensional flowtransverse dunes, flow-parallel bedforms and banner banks that flank prominent headlands and major shoals, and how they may place limitations on future in-stream tidal power developments in the Bay of Fundy. Finally, Li et al. use multibeam sonar mapping and geoscience surveys, coupled with tidal current and sediment
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Introduction / Continental Shelf Research ∎ (∎∎∎∎) ∎∎∎–∎∎∎
transport model calculations to investigate sediment transport and processes for the formation of complex seabed bedforms off the inner headland of the upper Bay of Fundy. Here tidal power is also being developed. For the Pacific offshore of Canada, Barrie and Conway provide an inventory of the potential tidal, wave and wind energy resources and identify areas with maximum resource potential. Seabed characterisation for these key sites reveal, the common occurrence of very large subaqueous dunes, with extensive areas of seafloor made up of a mobile gravel lag and an extensive boulder pavement. Greene and Colliar present a methodology to determine the seafloor habitat characteristics of a tidal energy site at the entrance to Puget Sound (Washington State, USA). In order to meet internationally agreed Greenhouse Gas emission reduction targets, countries are expanding rapidly renewable energy technologies and working towards carbon capture technology of traditional energy emissions. In Australia, one of the options being considered is storage of CO2 in marine sedimentary basins. Consequently, Australia is a leader in understanding the potential environmental impacts of carbon capture and storage on the continental shelf. Heap et al. present how the Australian Government is developing a national seabed mapping program as part of a national science strategy for carbon (CO2) storage in offshore sedimentary basins; this is a new development in continental shelf research. Carroll et al. review the environmental conditions that can be used to determine the potential for the offshore storage of CO2 for reduction of atmospheric emissions. Similarly, they provide a set of recommendations on how to set up an integrated and interdisciplinary approach, for the determination of the siting of CO2 storage basins. Nicholas et al. in assessing the potential of a basin for CO2 storage, demonstrate the critical importance in determining the extent of potential leakage. Here, an evaluation of pockmark development in the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf off northern Australia is presented, which identifies the suitability of potential sites. 3. Concluding remarks Marine renewable energy development is well under way for wind, whilst developments for wave and tide energy are expanding world-wide rapidly. In addition to energy development, carbon capture and storage is now being considered in the marine environment. Presently, there is only limited published literature on how these new human activities will impact upon natural processes and marine ecosystems on continental shelves; it is to be hoped that this compilation will provide new insight into this
important issue. The studies presented here represent a broad range of geoscience and habitat issues that are challenges for wind, wave and tidal energy development and the marine storage of carbon. We trust that this compilation of investigations work will stimulate discussion and inspire further research, in the future.
Managing Guest Editor J. Vaughn Barrie n Natural Resources Canada, Geological Survey of Canada, Institute of Ocean Sciences, PO Box 6000, Sidney, British Columbia, Canada V8L 4B2 E-mail address:
[email protected] Brian J. Todd Natural Resources Canada, Geological Survey of Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Box 1006, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada B2Y 4A2 E-mail address:
[email protected] Andrew D. Heap Geoscience Australia, GPO Box 378, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia E-mail address:
[email protected] H. Gary Greene Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Center for Habitat Studies, Moss Landing, California, USA E-mail address:
[email protected] Carol Cotterill, Heather Stewart British Geological Survey, Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3LA, UK E-mail addresses:
[email protected] (C. Cotterill),
[email protected] (H. Stewart) Bryony Pearce Pelagica Ltd, 9 Speirs Road, Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire PA12 4BS, UK E-mail address:
[email protected]
References Heap, A.D., Harris, P.T., 2011. Geological and biological mapping and characterisation of benthic marine environments. Cont. Shelf Res. 31, 172. Todd, B.J., Greene, H.G. (Eds.), 2007. Mapping the Seafloor for Habitat Characterization. Geological Association of Canada Special Paper 47, St. John's, Newfoundland, 519 pp.
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