Offshore Windfarm Footprint of Sediment Organic Matter Mineralization Processes

• DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2021.632243
• Publication Date: 2021-06-17T09:05:08Z
• Authors: Emil De Borger; Evgeny Ivanov; Arthur Capet; Ulrike Braeckman; Jan Vanaverbeke; Marilaure Grégoire; Karline Soetaert
• Keywords: Deposition; Bioturbation

Offshore windfarms (OWFs) offer part of the solution for energy transition which is urgently needed to mitigate effects climate change. Marine life has rapidly exploited new habitat offered by windfarm structures, resulting in increased opportunities filter- and suspension feeding organisms. In this study, we investigated organic matter (OM) deposition form fecal pellets expelled filtering epifauna OWFs, on mineralization processes sediment. OM fluxes produced a 3D hydrodynamic model Southern Bight North Sea were used as input early diagenesis. Two scenarios OWF development Belgian Part (BPNS) its surrounding waters calculated compared no-OWF baseline simulation. The first including constructed OWFs 2021, second containing additional planned 2026. Our results show total rates within (27–30%) correspondence with reactive carbon (OC) encapsulated OM. This leads buildup OC upper sediment layers (increase ∼10%) an increase anoxic processes. Similarly, denitrification increased, depending scenario, 2–3%. Effects not limited itself: clear changes noticed sediments outside mostly opposite “within-OWF” effects. contrast generated relatively small when averaging values over full modeling domain, however, certain changes, such example storage sediments, may be significant value national / regional management inventories. add expectations ecosystem-wide marine environments, need researched further given rapid rate expansion OWFs.