What it is
Marine biologist Helen Scales explores the deep ocean: its bizarre ecosystems, its role in climate regulation, and the growing race to mine the seafloor for polymetallic nodules, cobalt crusts, and rare earth minerals. Published in 2021, the book arrives at a critical moment as the International Seabed Authority debates mining regulations and companies push for extraction permits in areas like the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.
Why we picked this
Deep-sea mining is one of the defining environmental battles of this decade, and most people know almost nothing about what is at stake. Scales makes the deep ocean vivid and personal while clearly explaining why disturbing ecosystems that take millions of years to form for minerals we may not even need (given recycling and substitution advances) is a terrible bargain. Essential reading for informed participation in this debate.
Key takeaways
- The deep ocean below 200 meters contains an estimated 10 million undiscovered species, making it Earth's least explored biome.
- Polymetallic nodules on the abyssal plain take 1-10 million years to form, meaning any mining is effectively irreversible on human timescales.
- Deep-sea ecosystems regulate carbon through the biological pump, sequestering an estimated 2-3 billion tonnes of CO2 annually into the deep ocean.