The Future Of Ocean Power
Can we live underwater?
LIVE IN UNDERWATER CITIES
CONTENTS 12
DEEP WATER SOURCE COOLING
14
MARINE CURRENT POWER
16
18
04
TIDAL POWER
WAVE POWER
Chapter 2 INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1
THE GREAT UNTAPPED POTENTIAL
26
CO NT E NT S
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BREATHE UNDER THE SEA
28
ELECTRIC SYSTEM
66 36
DRINKING WATER
68 38
60
BIBLIOGRAPHY
FOOD FROM THE OCEAN
52
INDEX
TRANSPORTATION
70 44
CONCLUSION
72
IMAGE CREDITS
ACCOMMODATION
Chapter 4 TRAVELING UNDER THE SEA
Chapter 3
LIVING BENEATH THE SEA
03
CHAPTER
1
INTRODUCTION
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I NT R O DU CT I O N
“THE 20TH CENTURY’S LOVE AFFAIR WITH OUTER SPACE MEANS WE KNOW FAR MORE ABOUT THE MOON THAN WE DO ABOUT THE SEA FLOOR.”
The deepest parts of the ocean are totally unknown to us. When we think of the ocean, we always associate words such as mysterious, powerful, undiscovered etc. What goes on in those distant depths? What creatures inhabit, or could inhabit, those regions twelve or fifteen miles beneath the surface of the water? It’s almost beyond conjecture. Over the years, some science fiction give us a lot of space to image how cool it would be to live in these bizarre environment, such as underwater. People also have been trying to live underwater for the last half-century, a lot of them have succeeded. Thus, do not be afraid of dreaming about living in underwater cities because more and more people will live under the sea in the future. This book will take you into the ocean depths to explore every possibility of the ocean in 2035. This is not a book about the cutting-edge technology; this is a book about the magic and imagination.
07
CHAPTER THE GREAT UNTAPPED POTENTIAL
2
THE GREAT UNTAPPED POTENTIAL The value proposition for ocean power is twofold. First, ocean power technologies are based on
Day and night, around the world, the force of the sea can be seen and heard, crashing onto
well-understood principles derived from hydrody-
beaches and rocky shores. The endless cycle of
namic physics, marine design and construction,
waves, tides and currents is driven by wind, the
and mechanical and electrical engineering. Unlike
gravitational effects of the moon and ultimately,
solar photovoltaics, which rely on innovations in
the power of the sun.
materials research and processing technology to
Following decades of research, the ability to
reap efficiency gains, the research, design and devel-
tap into this formidable source of energy is finally
opment processes for ocean power technology have
within our grasp. What it promises is seductive: a
been practiced for hundreds of years. As such, the
limitless and dependable supply of clean energy,
capital and energy cost paths for ocean power tech-
accessible on shore and yet largely out of sight,
nologies are relatively predictable. Second, ocean
helping to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels
energy is an dense and predictable resource. Waves
and thus our footprint on planet Earth.
propagate over thousands of miles of ocean and their size and energy content can be known from
Tapping into the power of waves and tides to generate electricity also promises to create a vibrant
three to five days in advance. Tides and marine cur-
new energy sector, offering jobs (up to 420 000 by
rents are 832 times denser than the air flowing over
2050) and economic growth, especially for areas
wind turbines and are predictable up to the minute
suffering from the decline of traditional maritime
at least 100 years in advance.
industries such as shipbuilding and fisheries.
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1
Deep water source cooling Marine current power Tidal power Wave power
Deep water source cooling avoids most energy
Energy Technology OverviewPDF,” published by
costs of cooling districts or major buildings by
the U.S. Department of Energy. Because installa-
using colder water from oceans, lakes, or aquifers
tion costs for deep water cooling systems are high,
to cool warmer water that has been circulated
obtaining a good return on the initial investment
though buildings to pick up heat. This is useful
requires a consistent demand for cooling. Many
in ocean side cities and towns where deeper cooler
institutional buildings experience cooling loads
water is available relatively close to shore. Where
year-round. However, engineers should ensure cool-
applicable, it’s stated to take 1/10th the energy of
ing loads are steady and sustained over a long time
conventional air conditioning systems. This is also
before a campus considers such an investment.
used for major thermal generation plants.
Replacing large chillers for district cooling sys-
Research campuses should consider the following
tems can be very costly. The best time to explore
before undertaking a deep water cooling assessment
options such as deep water cooling is before
or installation. For direct applications of deep water
undertaking a chiller replacement.
cooling, water sources must be 45°F or cooler. These temperatures are typically present in the ocean or
Campuses with district cooling systems have the distribution piping needed to leverage deep
deep lakes, especially in the Great Lakes region of
water cooling systems. Another good time to
the United States. The Hawaiian Islands have cold
examine the pros and cons of deep water cooling
ocean currents passing close to shore. Read more
is when you are preparing to expand a district cool-
about cold ocean currents in the report “Ocean
ing system or develop a new campus.
13
2
Deep water source cooling
Marine current power Tidal power Wave power
Marine current power is even more “blue ocean”
fall of the tides resulting from the gravitational
than wave power and is even more likely to never
interactions between earth, moon, and sun. Other
reach any significant generation capacity. This
effects such as regional differences in tempera-
can safely be ignored in any discussions of what
ture and salinity and the Coriolis effect due to
will be useful in decarbonizing the grid in upcom-
the rotation of the earth are also major influenc-
ing decades.
es. A 2006 report from United States Department
Marine current power is a form of marine energy
of the Interior estimates that capturing just
obtained from harnessing of the kinetic energy of
1/1,000th of the available energy from the Gulf
marine currents, such as the Gulf stream. Although
Stream, which has 21,000 times more energy than
not widely used at present, marine current power
Niagara Falls in a flow of water that is 50 times
has an important potential for future electricity
the total flow of all the world’s freshwater rivers,
generation. Marine currents are more predictable
would supply Florida with 35% of its electrical
than wind and solar power. Marine Current Power–
needs. The potential of electric power generation
Marine currents are caused mainly by the rise and
from marine tidal currents is enormous.
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Deep water source cooling Marine current power
Tidal power Wave power
Tidal energy technologies have received relative-
energy technologies, with the possible exception
ly less attention than wave energy technologies,
of geothermal power, tidal power is the most
despite their comparative success in commercial
predictable and reliable. This could help in alle-
deployment and in lab and in-water testing. Of
viating, though not solving entirely, the problem
the 35 companies analyzed in this report, only 11
of dispatchability that many power companies
are developing tidal energy technologies. While
and utilities cite as a reason for not adopting
geography is a limiting factor in the deployment
renewable energy technologies.
of tidal energy devices, in the future this may
The majority of tidal energy companies are
be mitigated by some of the promising aspects
developing horizontal axis turbines. In many ways
of this method of power generation. In addition
these are analogous to both land-based and offshore
to the obvious technology transfer possibilities
wind turbines, and the general shape, mounting and
from the wind industry to the tidal industry - the
fixing technology, and power take-off system designs
link here is much clearer than the technology
are essentially the same. There are, however, several
transfer link between wave power and the off-
critical differences. Size is by far the most important
shore oil and gas industry - tidal energy provides
factor separating horizontal axis turbines oper-
an exceptionally predictable source of power.
ating in the water from horizontal axis turbines that
Since tides are a function of lunar phasing, it is
harness wind power. Tidal turbines generating 1 MW
possible to predict incoming tidal power hun-
of power can be up to one-third the size of a wind
dreds of years in advance. Of all the renewable
turbine with a similar generating capacity.
17
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Wave power
T H E GR E A T U NT A P P E D P O T E NT I A L
4
Deep water source cooling Marine current power Tidal power
Wave energy technologies are the most heavily researched and funded sector in the ocean power industry. Out of the 35 companies analyzed in this report, 24 are developing wave energy technologies. This is likely due to the scale and availability of the ocean wave resource when compared to the marine current and tidal stream resource. The potential to bring renewable electricity to the nearly 50 percent of the world’s population living within 60 miles of a coastal area is another factor driving the out sized development of wave energy technologies. The majority of companies developing wave energy technologies are working on devices called point absorbers. Point absorbers resemble offshore buoys that mark channels and measure environmental and meteorological data, though they are much larger. These devices are researched and developed at a higher rate than other kinds of wave energy devices because of their ability to absorb energy from oncoming waves in all directions. Their behavior is much the same as that of a cork in a bathtub, bobbing in reaction to multi-directional ripples. All other wave energy devices are designed to absorb oncoming energy from only one direction or dimension in space. Multi-directional absorption, however, is not without its problems. The device must be tuned to the wave climate in which it is submerged, or the energy created will not flow smoothly through the power-take off system. Some companies have developed advanced tuning systems, while others have overlooked this critical issue.
19
CHAPTER LIVING BENEATH THE SEA
3
LIVING BENEATH THE SEA
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For the past 200,000 years, ever since our species emerged in Africa, we’ve lived on the 29 per cent of our planet that’s dry land, but it might not always be that way. After 20 years, as the cutting-edge technology advanced, ocean power can help us to colonise the sea. In this chapter, there will be a picture that shows you how we live beneath the sea by using ocean power. 25
BREATHE UNDER THE SEA
WATER PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES One of the reasons one may want to remove oxygen from water is that is may corrode water pipes.
5 bar), or as vacuum degasifiers under slight under pressure. On the other hand, water enrichment
Multiplying this number by the wastewater volume gives the amount of hazardous substances.
Various physical and chemical
by oxygen may aid pollutant
The BOD5 per unit of time is
processes may solve this prob-
removal. This may be achieved
called BOD load. Hardly decom-
lem, for example ion exchange
by artificial aeration, for example
posable matter is excluded because
resins. The basic principle of this
by leading water over cascades,
of the short measuring time.
method is the reaction between
by rinsing water through surface
COD represents the amount of oxygen
hydrogen and oxygen: 2H2 + O2
aerators, by inserting air through
(mg) that is required for oxidizing
pressure filters, by adding air by
all oxidizable matter, per litre of
-> 2H2O. This reaction may de catalysed by various compounds,
increasing the water flow (for ex-
wastewater. This includes not only
causing it to end spontaneously.
ample in venturis), or by aeration
easily decomposable organic mat-
Palladium endowed ion resins may
with pure oxygen. Aeration is
ter, but also hardly decomposable
reduce the water oxygen concen-
applicable in water purification
and persistent compounds (for
tration when adequate amounts of
plants, but also in broad rivers.
example organic chlorine com-
hydrogen are present. Hydrazine is another possible reduction
Oxygen has a cleansing effect because it is essential for micro organisms
pounds) and consequently exceeds the BOD5 value.
compound that may be applied
and because it oxidizes compounds.
instead of hydrogen: O2 + N2H4
Therefore, water pollution is indi-
cation, for example swimming pool
cated by BOD, or COD (Chemical
or drinking water disinfection. It is
Oxygen Demand).
a stronger disinfectant that chlo-
-> N2 + 2 H2O. A simpler method that cannot be applied on every occasion is
The often applied BOD5 value indi-
Ozone can be applied for water purifi-
rine gas, but the protection from
thermal oxygen removal. Gas sol-
cates the oxygen concentration
bacteria lasts only briefly. Ozone
ubility in water at vaporization
applied by micro organisms with-
is an instable form of oxygen and
temperature equals zero. The
in five days at 20oC in an aerobic
therefore is quickly converted back
principle of thermal degasifica-
environment, to convert organic
to O2, which is favourable, because
tion is based on this fact. These
matter to carbon dioxide, water
ozone causes lung damage.
function as pressure degasifiers
and new biomass. It is expressed
under slight over pressure (up to
as mg O2 per litre of wastewater.
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NH 4+ + 2 O 2 -> NO 3- + 6 H + Mn 2+ + O 2 -> MnO 2 + 2 H + CH 4+ 2 O 2 -> CO 2 + 4 H + Fe 2+ + 0.25 O 2 -> Fe(OH) 3 + 2.5 H + O 2 + 2 H 2O + 4 e - -> 4 OH -
27
“What if there were a way to get around the body’s chemical limitations, a means of deep diving without the bends or lengthy decompression?” LIQUID AIR Deep water and the unprotected
for an hour or a month; your
and high O2/CO2 carrying
human body don’t play well
decompression time effectively
capacity. PFCs can hold as much
together like, at all. But what if
maxes out.
as three times the oxygen and
there were a way to get around the body’s chemical limita-
This technique, known as saturation diving, is how recovery divers
four times the carbon dioxide as human blood. They also act as
tions, a means of deep diving
working on the K-141 Kursk were
very efficient heat exchanges.
without the bends or lengthy
able to spend hours 300 feet
This makes PFCs ideal for use as
decompression? Actually, there
below sea level (amidst 10 atmo-
a liquid ventilation (LV) medium
is. And we’ve almost figured
spheres of pressure) and how the
for medical applications.
out how to do it without killing
crew in The Abyss were able to
ourselves in the process.
do their jobs.
The recommended absolute limit
Perhaps the best-remembered scene
for recreational SCUBA divers
from the 1989 Sci-Fi classic The
Research into liquid ventilation (when you breathe an oxygen-rich liquid instead of air) and PFCs began in earnest immediately following
is just 130 feet, and technical
Abyss is when Ed Harris’ char-
the end of the first World War,
dives using Trimix bottom out
acter has to don a liquid-filled
when doctors studying treatment
at 330. Even then, you’ve got
diving suit in order to descend
of poison gas inhalation began
less than five minutes at depth
into the Mariana Trench. He and
applying saline solutions to test subjects’ (in this case, dogs)
before requiring monitored
attempts to breathe what appears
decompression to avoid getting
to be hot ham water in order to
lungs. PFCs themselves were devel-
the bends (the not-scary word
prevent the surrounding pres-
oped in the early 1940s as part of
for when nitrogen dissolves into
sures from popping his lungs
the Manhattan Project. They were
your tissue under the massive
like bloody balloons. Turns out,
pressure of the water column, is
this scene is closer to science
ejected into the bloodstream
fact than science fiction.
during ascent, and you die of a
The substance is a perfluorocarbon
dubbed “Joe’s stuff.” However it wasn’t until the 1960s that the field really took off. It was the height of the Cold War and the US
brain embolism). Interestingly
(PFC), a synthetic liquid fluori-
though, once your body hits
nated hydrocarbon clear, odor-
military needed a way to increase the escape depth from the numer-
its nitrogen saturation limit, it
less, chemically and biologically
ous submarines it had parked
doesn’t matter if you stay down
inert, with a low surface tension
around the globe in the event of
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a catastrophic systems failure. In
In 1989, human trials began in
tals’ stress. While the efforts
1962, Dr. Johannes A. Kylstra and
Philadelphia. Several near-death
his team from Duke University
infants suffering from severe
lung performance improvements
showed that mice could be condi-
respiratory distress were admin-
remained even after removing
tioned to breathe an oxygenated
istered total liquid ventilation
the ventilator, and proved that
saline solution pressurized to 160
completely filling the lungs with
liquid ventilation was a potent
atmospheres (or 1 mile below sea
PFC fluid vs filling them to their
therapy for premature babies.
level), although they just died a
functional residual capacity and
few minutes later from respiratory
showed some remarkable physio-
acidosis (carbon dioxide poison-
logical improvements, including
ing). The system was far from
lung compliance and gas exchange.
perfect, but illustrated that such
And that might just be the trick.
a technique was indeed possible, albeit not yet plausible. Subsequent experiments performed
During normal development, the fetus’ lungs are filled with amniotic fluid and, once they’re born,
by Leland C. Clark, Jr. and Frank
a chemical known as surfactant
Gollan showed that mice could
helps prevent the lungs from col-
breathe PFCs under normal
lapsing. Premature babies, howev-
atmospheric conditions, rats
er, have not yet developed enough
could remain submerged for up
surfactant to prevent their lungs
to 20 hours, and cats could last
from folding in on themselves, so
weeks. Their study also employed
when they’re suddenly exposed to
silicone oils as an alternative to
a gas atmosphere they struggle just
PFCs but, as it turns out, silicone oil is really toxic to mammals (but
weren’t enough to save lives, the
to breathe. The Philadelphia trials aimed to see
only after returning to breathing
if liquid ventilation could accu-
normal air). PFCs are currently
rately recreate conditions within
the only acceptable liquid ventila-
the womb, act as an artificial sur-
tion medium we know of.
factant, and reduce the neo-na29
ELECTRIC SYSTEM
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E
lectricity figures everywhere in our
lives. Electricity lights up our homes, cooks our food, powers our computers, television sets, and other electronic devices. Electricity from batteries keeps our cars running and makes our flashlights shine in the dark. We can not live without electricity. Thus, how can undersea cities get electricities from the ocean? Oceans cover more than 70 percent of Earth’s surface, so clearly they represent an enormous energy resource. The first real success came in 1966, when a tidal power plant opened in Bretagne, France, on the Rance River. Today, the station produces 240 megawatts of power -- better than a typical wind farm, but less than a coal plant. Only two other tidal plants have had comparable commercial impact. The first is a 20-megawatt station in Nova Scotia, on the Bay of Fundy. The second is a 0.5-megawatt station located in Russia on the White Sea. In 2015, ocean power will be one of the most important energy sources.
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producing electricities are waves and tides. Winds drive waves, which travel for long distances as a series
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Two of the most noticeable ways of
ELECTRICITY
of crests and troughs. Watch any object floating at the ocean surface as it encounters a wave, and you’ll notice that it rises up with the crest and falls with the trough. It’s possible to convert this oscillating motion into electricity in a number of ways. How Wave Energy Works covers these various systems in great detail. One way to harness the kinetic energy of all that moving water involves building a dam, known as a barrage, on a smaller arm of the bay. Sluice gates along the barrage open when the tides produce an adequate difference in the level of the water on opposite sides of the dam. This allows water to flow across turbines that look just like those used in a traditional hydroelectric power plant. The turbines turn a generator, which produces electricity. Another way to take advantage of ocean tides is to tap into tidal currents, which run close to the shore at water depths of about 65 to 100 feet (20 to 30 meters). To do this, power companies use turbines resembling those seen on terrestrial wind farms, except they are oriented so that the rotors are underwater. The rotors, each about 66 feet (20 meters) in diameter, are also spaced more closely than those on wind farms. As tidal currents surge past the turbines, the rotors spin, turning a generator.
33
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Finally, ocean power systems are easier on the eyes than wind and solar systems. They require less space and far fewer units than wind farms or solar arrays. Moreover, the equipment used to deliver ocean power is located offshore, either on the surface or below the surface, so the systems don’t block views or interfere with aviation or radar. They also run silently, unlike wind turbines, which can produce aerodynamic noise, which some have described as a buzzing, whooshing, pulsing and even sizzling sound.
35
DRINKING WATER
Of the world’s water,
97.5%
is salt water
from its oceans. Only 2.5 percent is fresh water. Of that
2.5%
, approximately
69%
is
Pump
frozen in glaciers and ice caps, leaving less than
30%
in fresh groundwater. There is
no doubt that the biggest water resource for undersea cities is seawater. Desalination (also called “desalinization” and “desalting”) is the process of removing dissolved salts from water, thus producing fresh water from seawater or brackish water. Desalting technologies can be used for many applications. The most prevalent use is to produce potable water from saline water for domestic or municipal purposes, but use of desalination and desalination technologies for
WATER INTAKE Vents are grated and designed to take in water slowly to protect sea life.
industrial applications is growing, especially in the oil & gas industry. Due to relatively high energy consumption, at the moment, only around 1% of the world’s population are dependent on desalinated water to meet their daily needs, but by 2035, water desalination will not consume high energy any more. Thus, in 2035, people who live in undersea cities can dependent on desalinated water to meet their
How Desalination Works
daily needs. WATER OUTLET Currents disperse brine.
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B. Cartridge Filters
REVERSE OSMOSIS Filters take out salt and microbes from highly pressurized water.
Reverse Osmosis Filters
PRETREATMENT A removes larger material like sand, twigs and sea weed. B removes small particles like fine sand and clay.
High Pressure Pump
A. Sand Filters
Distribution
To water customers
DISTRIBUTION Desalted water is treated with additives to soften it.
FILTERED BRINE Brine from filtration is sent back out to sea.
ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEM Energy from pressurized outgoing brine is recycled, to pressurized incoming watter.
37
TRANSPORTATION
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for undersea discover, adventure and transportation. It is designed to hold 12 hours of air and dive to a depth of 30,000 feet. About its inspiration and intentions: “venturing into the depths of the oceans [has resulted in] significant technological and ecological discoveries … even today, only about 5% of the oceans have been explored by humans [yet] minimal resources are
Conceptual Submersible
THE MANATEE IS a conceptual submersible made
actually invested in this sector [compared to space].” More on its technologies: “Manatee is a concept personal submersible vehicle idealized for safe and cmofortable subaquatic explorations. Its control system is based on a Main Joystick, from which operator can easily command the thrusters and helms for an accurate navigation, and a Touch Screen Control Panel running its Integrated Operational System (Manatee IOS) with access to Safe Redundant Navigation Commands, monitors and controls for Surface Communication, Oxygen and CO2 Levels/Ambience Climatization, External/Internal Lights, SONAR Activities, Infrared and Camera Visualizations/ Recordings, Engine/Battery Status, and other basic monitors and controls, as Compass, Velocity, Water Alerts, Hydrogen, Temperature, Pressure, Humidity, Depth, Pich, Roll, Heading, Altitude, Position (lat/ long), Vertical Speed and more.”
39
to explore the deep seas in complete safety and comfort. With an overall length of 66.5 m, the undersea yacht’s unit is a unique vessel for its quality to travel on the surface as well as underwater by simply passing from diesel to electric propulsion. Equipped with integrated systems of stabilization, the passage on the sea surface is slow and comfortable even under the worst conditions. Whether it’s luxurious trips to nearby islands or the stylish underwater adventuring, one thing’s for sure that U-010 will give new meaning to seagoing.
Undersea Yacht
THIS LUXURIOUS undersea vehicle is designed
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41
regions of the deep ocean in perfect comfort and absolute safety. The Phoenix 1000 is the ultimate personal transportation device, 65 meters (213 ft.) in length with 470 square meters (5000 sq. ft.) of interior space on 4 levels. The bigger sister to a fleet that includes the Triton 1000, the Discovery 1000, the 65' Nomad 1000, and the 118' Seattle 1000, The Phoenix 1000 is the largest private undersea vessel built to date. The Phoenix 1000 provides its owner with substantially more capability than a simple yacht—the opportunity to explore the depths of the world’s oceans in perfect comfort and safety. The Phoenix is capable of making trans-Atlantic crossings at 16 knots yet can dive along the route and explore the continental margins of some of the most fascinating waters on earth. And unlike surface yachts, when the water gets rough, the submarine can submerge into a perfectly smooth and quiet environment, continuing on toward its destination, providing a ride unsurpassed in quality-unequaled by the finest motor coach or the most luxurious executive aircraft.
Phoenix 1000
THIS “TOY” IS CAPABLE of taking you to unseen
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43
FOOD FROM THE OCEAN
THE OCEAN, where I live, is an enormous buffet table for everything in it and for many land animals, including humans. When you think of the ocean food web, you might think of fierce great white sharks devouring their prey, or enormous blue whales gulping tons of krill. Or you might think of giant stands of seaweed being devoured by everyone, like an underwater salad bar . But did you know that more than 90 percent of all sea creatures end up being eaten by other sea creatures? That means that almost every organism in the ocean ends up getting eaten by another sea creatures at some points or other, and almost every sea creature eats other sea creatures. In order to know the food from ocean, we have to know the different level of the ocean.
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45
660 ft
3280 ft
20000 ft
THE EUPHOTIC ZONE
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The euphotic zone, or sunlit zone is the top level of the ocean. It extends about 200 meters (660 ft) down from the surface. There’s lots of sunlight here, so we phytoplankton, along with ocean plants, love it. Consequently, most of the animal species in the ocean can also be found here. Red and green algae, also known as seaweed, cover much of the shallow ocean floor in the euphotic zone. Enormous giant kelp grow in thick forests, almost like forests on land, and provide shelter for many sea animals . Sea urchins live in the protected waters at the base of the kelp, and sea otters feed on those urchins. Sea otters also wind long strands of kelp around their bodies while they sleep in order to keep from drifting away.
47
660 ft
3280 ft
THE TWILIGHT ZONE
AS YOU GO BELOW the euphotic zone, the water begins to get darker, colder, and heavier. You are now entering the twilight zone . It begins at about 20000 ft
200 meters (656 ft) and goes to a depth of about 1,000 meters (3,280 ft). The pressure in this zone would crush a person, but the life forms that live here have adapted to the pressure . The twilight zone, also called the disphotic (dis-FOE-tic) zone, doesn’t have enough light to support photosynthesis and plant life, but some animals do make their homes here . Others, such as whales, visit from the euphotic zone.
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49
660 ft
3280 ft
20000 ft
THE MIDNIGHT ZONE
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THIS TOTALLY DARK region of the ocean contains 90 percent of the ocean’s water, but almost none of its life. The pressure is so great that it can crush almost anything, including most submarines, and the temperature is near freezing. But there is some life in the midnight zone, if you look closely many of the tiny animals that live here, such as the lantern fish, have little lights running up and down their bodies . The light comes from a special process called bioluminescence.
51
ACCOMMODATION
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One of the most ambitious attempts to create an underwzzater dwelling is the brainchild of a man named Phil Pauley. The Sub-Biosphere is pretty much exactly what you would guess based on the name, and is the closest thing to an underwater city currently in the works. While it’s not yet a functioning residence, the concept art and blueprints are enough to make any of us want to venture down to the briny depths and spend an extended period submerged.
THE SUB-BIOSPHERE The Sub-Biosphere is comprised of multiple stories contained within pods, each of which would house up to 100 residents. Pauley’s vision is an underwater city that is completely self-sustained, incorporating areas for growing crops and supplying its own electricity. Whether the Sub-Biosphere ever comes to fruition remains to be seen, but Pauley continues to work tirelessly on the logistics and funding to get the operation off of the ground—as well as, a bit too coincidentally, a work of fiction based on the structure.
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How could anyone ever even talk about the idea of living underwater without bringing up the one and only Jacques Cousteau? The most famous aquatic expert in history successfully created underwater living and research facilities. Unlike something like the Sub-Biosphere, the Conshelf project wasn’t designed for long-term living, though it featured most of the comforts of home in a giant metal drum. The Conshelf project existed for three iterations, with the Conshelf III becoming home to six researchers who lived submerged for nearly a month.
THE CONSHELF The idea began in 1962, when the Conshelf I sat 10 meters (33 ft) under the surface of the Mediterranean off the coast of Marseilles. The small, cramped confine technically called the Diogenes was home to a pair of scientists for a week. It came equipped with a library, television, and radio, and was used as a research station to study marine life. Shortly after the success of the Conshelf I experiment, Conshelf II was launched. It came with even more fantastical amenities, such as a garage, an aquarium, and another research facility burrowed deeper into the sea, this time housing five people for a month. Finally, the most ambitious project was the Conshelf III, nested an incredible 100 meters (328 ft) beneath the water’s surface.
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While most underwater habitats are off limits to anyone who isn’t a marine scientist or willing to wait until the next decade for funding to be secured, there is one other option. For the low price of just US $10
H2OME
million, you can own your very own luxury underwater home—or rather, H2OME. The same people who have planned one of the most famous underwater hotels in the world, the Poseidon, are now offering custom-built underwater homes. The company, US Submarine Structures, is apparently trying to corner the market on undersea properties—its website lists underwater casinos and restaurants, in addition to full houses, among the array of aquatic possibilities. They boast that the homes maintain the same pressurization as the surface, meaning you don’t ever have to get wet on your way to the stairs and or up the elevator. The homes are comprised of two floors, with a pair of bedrooms, lounge areas, and everything else you could ever want in a dwelling that is perfect for aspiring Bond villains of the world.
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OCEAN SPIRAL Ocean Spiral is the latest concept design by Shimizu Corporation, a construction company. It imagines a spherical city 500m in diameter, in which 5,000 people live and work. It mostly floats at the surface, with much of the living space submerged. But in the event of bad weather or other emergency, the sphere descends along a gently sloping spiral track to the ocean floor, 4km below the surface.
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TRAVELING UNDER THE SEA
If you want to travel under the sea, you must find a perfect and comfortable holtel first. One of the is the Crescent Hydropolis of Dubai. Dubai has become notorious in recent years for its fabulously modern architecture. It seems the wildest architectural dreams become reality here. The Hydropolis furthers this notion. At a cost of some $550 million, the luxury resort is being built on the Persian Gulf floor which is 66 feet below the surface. When completed, the project will cover 27 acres and compose of an above ground connected by a 1700 foot transparent train tunnel to the undersea hotel which resembles the shape of a jellyfish. The 220 suites will be bubble-shaped, with clear glass comprising both the sleeping area walls and the bathtubs. I suppose modesty must be checked at the front desk also. Anxious sea-dwellers will have to wait until 2009 before making a reservation. You may even want to have a look at some existing Dubai hotels before diving into the ocean for Hydropolis.
Hydropolis Holtel
underwater hotels currently under construction
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Mariana Trench
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Mariana Trench NWR is managed as part of the Pacific Reefs National Wildlife Refuge Complex. A National Wildlife Refuge Complex is an administrative grouping of two or more refuges, wildlife management areas or other refuge conservation areas that are primarily managed from a central office location.
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CHAPTER
4
CONCLUSION
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CO NCLU SI O N
OVER RECENT YEARS, the devastating effects of climate change have swept across many nations, leaving millions to worry about the consequences of failing to transition into a safe and sustainable energy future. Fortunately, we found ocean power. To what extent ocean power will be used in 2035? We do not know. 2035, it is remote to us, and it gives us a lot of space to imagine what will be like in the future. I believe that ocean power not only just help us living beneath the sea; there must be greater potential for us to explore.
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INDEX
A
F aquifers 13
fossil fuels 10
analogous 17
filters 37
abyssal zone 20 Africa 25
H
aerators, aeration 26 acidosis 29 atmospheric 29
hadal zone 21
I installation 13
B
ion 26 bacteria 26 bloody balloons 28
J
bioluminescence 51
installation 13 ion 26
C colonise 25
K
catastrophic 29 conself 54
D
kinetic energy 33
L lungs 28
decarbonizing 14 Deep-sea Challenger 21
M
dioxide 26
marine current power 14
decompression 28
midnight zone 20,51
desalination 36
Manhattan project 28
dwelling 53,57
Manatee 39
dioxide 28
mediteranean 54 Mariana trench 28,63
E environment 07
O
electricity 10,27-33
ocean 07-14,23,29-35,58
elephant seals 20
oxygen 26
euphotic zone 47
ozone 26
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P
Y palladium 26 perfluorocarbon 28 Pacific 63
yachts 42
Z zone 47-51
R renewable electricity 19 respiratory 29
S sperm whales 20 silicone 29 submersible 39 submarine 51,57
T tidal 9,14,29 Trieste 21 turbines 33 twilight zone 48
U underwater 07
V vacuum 26 ventilation 28-29
W waves 10-19 wind farm 29
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IMAGE CREDIT
P4
P43 https://drscdn.500px.org
P6
http://www.2luxury2.com P45
https://drscdn.500px.org P11
https://drscdn.500px.org P47
https://drscdn.500px.org
http://s3.amazonaws.com P49
P8 http://www.abc.net.au/ http://conserve-energy-future.com
http://c85c7a.medialib.glogster.com P51
https://drscdn.500px.org
http://borubo.ru
http://krylov-center.ru
P52
https://drscdn.500px.org
P55
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com
P56
https://drscdn.500px.org
P59
https://drscdn.500px.org
P62-P63
http://i.kinja-img.com
P12
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com
P15
http://i1.wp.com
P16
https://amazonaws.com
P18
http://i.ytimg.com
P22 https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com
http://media-1.web.britannica.com https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com
P24 https://drscdn.500px.org P29 http://www.back-stage.com P28 http://globe-views.com P32 http://www.alternative-energy-news.info P38 http://weburbanist.com P41 http://psipunk.com
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