The importance of Antarctic krill in biogeochemical cycles

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) are swarming, oceanic crustaceans, up to two inches long, and best known as prey for whales and penguins – but they have another important role. With their large size, high biomass and daily vertical migrations they transport and transform essential nutrients, stimulate primary productivity and influence the carbon sink. Antarctic krill are also fished by the Southern Ocean’s largest fishery. Yet how krill fishing impacts nutrient fertilisation and the carbon sink in the Southern Ocean is poorly understood. Our synthesis shows fishery management should consider the influential biogeochemical role of both adult and larval Antarctic krill

Introduction to the Volume

Over half of the US supply of marine-derived crude oil now comes from wells deeper than 1500 meters (one statute mile) water depth – classified by industry and government regulators as “ultra-deep” production. A number of factors make ultra-deep exploration and production much more challenging than shallow-water plays, including strong ocean currents, extremely high pressures and low temperatures at the sea bottom, varied sub-bottom rock and sediment strata, and high oil and gas reservoir pressures/temperatures. All of these factors, combined with the extremely high production costs of ultra-deep wells, create enormous challenges to explore, develop, and produce from ultra-deep oil and gas extraction facilities safely and with minimal environmental damage. In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon and other well blowouts, a considerable body of scientific research on the fate of spilled oil and the resulting environmental effects of deep blowouts has emerged. This and a companion volume, published by Springer, Scenarios and Responses to Future Deep Oil Spills: Fighting the Next War, are intended to contribute to the ongoing and important task of synthesizing what we know now and identifying critical “known-unknowns” for future investigation. How can society minimize the risks and make informed choices about trade-offs in the advent of another ultra-deep blowout? Also, what research questions, experiments, and approaches remain to be undertaken which will aid in reducing risk of similar incidents and their ensuing impacts should ultra-deep blowouts reoccur? It is to these questions that this volume intended to contribute

Introduction to the Volume

Ultra-deep water production of oil and gas – from depths greater than 1 mile (1500 m) – comprises an ever-increasing proportion of the world’s supply of hydrocarbons. In the Gulf of Mexico, ultra-deep production now exceeds that from shallower waters. The ultra-deep domains of the world’s oceans are home to unique and highly sensitive communities of animals, are characterized by extremes in environmental conditions (low temperatures, high pressures), and are exceedingly challenging regions in which to work safely. Deepwater Horizon (DWH) was the world’s first and largest ultra-deep water well blowout and likely not the last. In the wake of that incident, scientific research and industrial development have been focused to better understand the ultra-deep domain, to lessen the likelihood of accidents there, and to better respond to future incidents. This volume summarizes trends in the development of ultra-deep drilling, synthesizes the state of knowledge relevant to ultra-deep oil spill prevention and response, and contrasts the effects of simulated ultra-deep spills in the frontier regions of the Gulf and elsewhere. Recommendations for additional research and public policy changes to lessen the likelihood and impacts of future spills and to improve oil spill response are provided