World War II Munitions, Torpedoes and Naval Mines: The Way Ocean Creatures Thrives on Dumped Armaments
In the brackish waters off the Germany's coast rests a wasteland of World War II explosives, torpedoes and mines. Dumped from boats at the conclusion of the World War II and forgotten about, countless weapons have accumulated over the years. They form a corroding layer on the low-depth, silty ocean floor of the Lübeck Bay in the western part of the Baltic.
Over the years, the Nazi arsenal was overlooked and forgotten about. A growing number of visitors came to the coastal areas and tranquil sea for water sports, kite surfing and entertainment venues. Underwater, the weapons eroded.
We initially expected to see a desert, with nothing living there because it was all contaminated, explains a scientist.
When the first scientists went searching to see what they were affecting to the marine environment, the team expected to see a lifeless zone, with nothing living there because it was all toxic, explains the lead researcher.
What they discovered surprised them. Vedenin recalls his scientists shouting with surprise when the ROV first sent the images back. It was a memorable occasion, he notes.
Numerous of sea creatures had settled among the explosives, forming a regenerated ecosystem more populous than the ocean bottom around it.
This ocean community was testament to the resilience of life. It is actually astonishing how much life we observe in locations that are expected to be dangerous and dangerous, he explains.
In excess of 40 starfish had clustered on to one exposed piece of TNT. They were dwelling on iron containers, ignition chambers and carrying containers just centimetres from its dangerous content. Marine fish, crustaceans, anemones and bivalves were all observed on the historic weapons. It resembles a reef ecosystem in terms of the amount of creatures that was there, notes Vedenin.
Remarkable Population Density
An mean of more than 40,000 organisms were living on every square metre of the munitions, experts documented in their paper on the finding. The surrounding area was much poorer in life, with only 8,000 creatures on every meter squared.
It is ironic that things that are intended to destroy all life are attracting so much marine organisms, explains Vedenin. It's evident how nature evolves after a devastating occurrence such as the second world war and how, in some way, marine life finds its way to the most risky locations.
Man-made Structures as Ocean Environments
Artificial structures such as shipwrecks, offshore windfarms, drilling platforms and undersea pipes can create replacements, replacing some of the destroyed marine environment. This research shows that munitions could be similarly advantageous – the bloom of marine organisms on those in the Bay of Lübeck is probable to be repeated elsewhere.
Between the late 1940s and 1948, 1.6m tons of munitions were discarded off the Germany's coast. Thousands of individuals transported them in vessels; a portion were placed in specific locations, the remainder just dumped during transport. This is the first time experts have studied how ocean organisms has reacted.
Global Examples of Marine Adaptation
- In the US, decommissioned oil and gas structures have transformed into coral reefs
- Submerged vessels from the first world war have become environments for creatures along the Potomac River in the state of Maryland
- Tank tracks that have become environment to coral off Asan beach in Guam
These places become even more important for marine life as the marine environments are increasingly denuded by fishing, bottom trawling and boat mooring. Shipwrecks and explosive disposal locations practically function as protected areas – they are not national parks, but virtually any kind of anthropogenic disturbance is restricted, states Vedenin. As a result a numerous of species that are otherwise rare or declining, such as the Baltic cod, are flourishing.
Coming Factors
Wherever armed conflict has happened in the last century, nearby oceans are typically strewn with weapons, states Vedenin. Millions of tons of explosive material lie in our seas.
The locations of these munitions are poorly documented, partly because of national borders, classified military information and the fact that documents are stored in old files. They present an explosion and safety risk, as well as threat from the ongoing leakage of hazardous substances.
As Germany and other countries start removing these artifacts, scientists aim to safeguard the marine communities that have developed in their vicinity. In the Bay of Lübeck weapons are currently being removed.
It would be wise to replace these steel remains remaining from munitions with some more secure, some safe objects, like perhaps concrete structures, says Vedenin.
He now hopes that what transpires in the Bay of Lübeck sets a precedent for replacing structures after weapon clearance in different areas – because even the most harmful weaponry can become foundation for marine organisms.
