table of contents:
* What is a wave upwelling pump?
* What is the role and effect of a wave upwelling pump?
* About NPO Escot’s wave upwelling pump
* Latest videos and materials about wave upwelling pumps
* Catalogue for monitor sales start
* Related information and materials
* About upwelling sea areas = 50% of marine resources come from 0.1% upwelling sea areas
* About the effect of seabed cultivation (fertilization of the sea)
* About problems caused by rising sea surface temperatures and the cooling effect
* Latest research on sea surface temperatures
* Test sea area: Sea surface at Katsuura Underwater Observatory: Comparison at a depth of 8m
* Estimated upwelling water volume and calculation formula
* About suppressing water vapor supply
* System that can utilize typhoon energy
* Aerobic decomposition of sludge = suppression of methane and blue tide generation
* Aerobic decomposition of organic matter that accumulates in depressions on the sea floor after dredging to suppress the generation of methane and hydrogen sulfide
* Overseas cases
* Summary
Development project participants wanted
Current list of supporters
NEW: Poster exhibit at Tokyo Bay Symposium
⇒Detailed information
NEW: We have provided German language materials to several German companies .
⇒ German language materials
NEW: The possibility of DAC technology to capture CO2 directly from the air has emerged .
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What is a wave upwelling pump?
A wave upwelling pump is a device that uses the up and down motion of waves to pump seawater (or fresh water).
* What is upwelling? (Source: Wikipedia)
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What is the role and effect of a wave upwelling pump?
It brings nutrients from the lower layers to the ocean surface, helping the proliferation of phytoplankton and revitalizing fishery resources in upwelling areas.
At the same time, it is expected to have the effect of reducing water vapor by diffusing cold water from the lower layers from spring to autumn near the ocean surface.
Test conducted at Ishinomaki scallop farm: Total length approx. 6m, lower part is VU150 pipe
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About NPO Escot’s upwelling pump
In 2019, we began developing a check valve type wave upwelling pump.
Its features
are: 1) Zero energy/small wave compatible: Powered only by wave power, it can pump low-lying water even with small waves in inland seas, lakes, etc.
2) High strength and durability: The experience gained from previous offshore tests is utilized.
3) Economical and versatile: Upwelling pipes are made of PVC pipes (second-hand pipes are acceptable) and can be obtained anywhere in the country.
4) DIY compatible: Fishing industry personnel can make, install and repair the equipment themselves.
⑤Low cost: They can be purchased for 100,000 yen (1 set), and a certain number of them can be used as fishing reefs.
Structure and upwelling mechanism
It consists of a buoy (floating body) that floats on the water surface and a pipe with a check valve suspended below it.
When the buoy rises, the valve closes, pulling the water in the upwelling tube upward.
When the buoy descends, the check valve opens and the water inside is dispersed to the surface.
If the buoy rises quickly, the water inside the pipe will have upward kinetic energy.
The amount of water pumped is proportional to the vertical displacement of the upwelling pipe and the wave period.
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Latest videos and materials on wave upwelling pumps
1.Video: Climate change countermeasure mechanism of the wave upwelling device ⇒Click here
2.Video: Explanation of the Wave Upwelling Pump ⇒Click here
3. Video: Video of water upwelling at wave height of 5cm ⇒here *
You can clearly see how the water in the pipe rises by a few centimeters.
4. Video: Visualization of the water flow inside and outside the upwelling pipe ⇒ here
5. Documents: Latest information: Results of an experiment verifying the effectiveness of a wave-type upwelling pump
Monitor sales have started. Catalog ⇒Here
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Related information and materials :
*About upwelling areas: 50% of fishery resources come from 0.1% of upwelling areas
- Although upwelling areas account for only about 0.1% of the total ocean surface area, their biological productivity is exceptionally high among all marine ecosystems, resulting in the formation of an extremely rich ecosystem. This is because nutrients from the deep ocean are brought to the ocean surface, triggering the proliferation of phytoplankton, the producers of the ocean, which in turn increases the number of organisms at higher trophic levels. Upwelling areas also provide good fishing grounds, benefiting humans.
Source: Wikipedia
*Effects of seabed cultivation (sea fertilization)
Effect 1: Increase in phytoplankton and revitalization of fishery resources
Effect 2: Increased phytoplankton captures CO2
Effect 3: In sludge (marine areas with anaerobic organic matter deposits), it promotes decomposition, helping to prevent red tides and blue tides.
Effect 4: It helps reduce the generation of methane (a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than CO2) through anaerobic decomposition.
- Plankton increase and CO2 absorption
- Source: University of Hamburg
- Artificial upwelling and fish population increase, Takumi
- Source: Japan Institute of Marine Engineering
- Blue tide occurs
- Source: PAKUTASO
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*The issue of rising sea surface temperatures and their cooling effect
Rising sea surface temperatures can have the following effects:
Climate change and changing weather patterns:
Rising sea surface temperatures can affect weather patterns, for example increasing the intensity and frequency of hurricanes and typhoons.
②Changes in ocean circulation:
Changes in sea surface temperatures can also affect ocean circulation, which can lead to changes in ocean currents and climates around the world.
3) Impact on ecosystems:
Marine ecosystems are sensitive to changes in sea surface temperature. Rising temperatures can affect the distribution, reproduction, and food availability of marine organisms. This can have a particularly severe impact on certain ecosystems, such as coral reefs and fish schools.
④Melting glaciers and ice sheets:
The rise in sea surface temperatures associated with global warming may, in extreme cases, accelerate the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, which could accelerate sea level rise and affect low-lying coastal areas.
⑤ Rising temperatures and related problems:
Rising sea surface temperatures are also associated with rising air temperatures. This could lead to rising temperatures across the globe and an increase in weather events such as heat waves, droughts, and floods.
⑥ Decreased intake of oxygen and CO2 from the air into the ocean:
This could cause a decrease in the amount of dissolved oxygen in the ocean. This could lead to a decrease in the amount of oxygen and CO2 absorbed by the ocean, which could lead to the death of fish and shellfish from lack of oxygen and a decrease in phytoplankton.
These effects are interconnected and can lead to complex changes in the Earth’s climate system.
Possible effects of cooling sea surface temperature:
Effect 1: Restriction of water vapor supply
Effect 2: Suppression of typhoons, heavy rains, and heavy snowfall
Effect 3: Measures against heatstroke in coastal cities (heat absorption by low-level cold seawater)
Effect 4: Increase in the amount of oxygen and 2CO dissolved from the ocean surface (increase in plankton and prevent death from lack of oxygen)
- Japan Meteorological Agency website
- Japan Meteorological Agency website
- Source: TV Asahi News
- Mass fish kill in the Gulf of Mexico
Water temperature and oxygen dissolved amount curve:
When the water temperature increases by 5°C, the amount of oxygen absorbed decreases by 8 to 10%.
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*Latest survey results on sea surface temperatures
Due to ocean currents, the temperature in Katsuura, Chiba Prefecture, rarely exceeds 30°C even in summer.
We compared the annual water temperature at 8m depth at the “Undersea Observation Park” in Katsuura with the sea surface temperature data from the Japan Meteorological Agency.
*There was an issue with the collection time of the Japan Meteorological Agency data being unclear.
- The average water temperature difference throughout the year was about 1.7°C higher in the sea surface area.
- The occurrence rate of days when the sea surface temperature was higher than the subsurface temperature was approximately 95%.
- Throughout the year, sea surface temperatures were 3°C or more higher on average in June, July, and August.
- The maximum vertical water temperature difference was 8°C.
- The reduction in water temperature difference in September and October is thought to be due to stirring caused by typhoons.
- It is believed that visibility is low during periods of rising sea surface temperatures due to the proliferation of plankton.
Test area:
Annual vertical water temperature change graph in Katsuura: Red = sea surface water temperature, Blue = water temperature 8m below the surface
Water temperature difference graph: August is the highest
Monthly average water temperature change: Decreased in September and October due to typhoons
It is thought that the diversion occurred because sea surface temperatures were low from autumn to winter.
The monthly average water temperature is lowest in January and February.
It is believed that plankton influences the relationship between transparency and water temperature.
Vertical water temperature data at Katsuura underwater observatory: A future challenge is to collect data on time variations during the day and night.
We know from experience that the water becomes suddenly cold just by diving 2-3m deep.
At Escot, we measured the actual difference in temperature using a temperature logger placed in a waterproof case.
We found that on a sunny summer day, the surface water temperature is up to 3°C lower than the water temperature at a depth of 3m.
One of the reasons for this is thought to be the sudden rise in sea surface temperature due to direct sunlight.
Vertical water temperature measured at 50cm intervals and 15 minutes intervals
Measurements taken throughout the day on September 10th showed that the surface layer of the ocean up to a depth of 0.5m absorbed almost half of the solar heat.
Water absorbs heat super quickly
A 1mm water layer absorbs almost all of the heat wavelengths in sunlight that are 3μm or longer.
This means that a large amount of water vapor is generated several centimeters above the ocean surface.
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*Estimated upwelling water volume and calculation formula
If the wave period is 5 seconds, the up and down movement repeats 17,280 times per day.
If the upwelling pipe has a displacement of 50 cm and a diameter of 20 cm, one wave will pump up about 15 liters of low-lying water.
This means that about 270 tons of water will be raised per day (not including loss due to water resistance) .
When a typhoon occurs in the South Seas and waves of about 4m wash up on the coast, the amount of upwelling is thought to be about eight times this amount, or 2,160 tons
. ☆It is expected that the energy of the typhoon will be used to vertically stir and propel the water, resulting in an automatic control effect that suppresses water vapor generation.
- Artificial upwelling to enhance fish stocks by using wave power
- Source: Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
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*Regarding water vapor supply restrictions
Lowering the sea surface temperature by 1°C would reduce water vapor generation by about 7%. (IPCC)
- Sea surface temperature on August 9, 2023
- Source: Japan Meteorological Agency website
- Clouds and waves come to the coast from the sea. August 5, 2023
- Kamogawa City, Chiba Prefecture
* A system that can utilize typhoon energy
① A typhoon occurs in the ocean south of Japan
②Arrival of high waves/swells due to typhoons
③The wave-powered upwelling pump moves up and down and starts to pull up the cold water from the lower layers.
④ Decrease in sea surface temperature in the laying area due to cold water diffusion/diffusion of nutrients in the lower layers
⑤ Suppression of typhoon development and course change by suppressing water vapor supply
- Sea surface temperature drops as typhoon passes
- Seafloor nutrient redeployment
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* Aerobic decomposition of sludge = Suppression of methane and blue tide generation
① Organic matter in the bottom mud is aerobicly decomposed little by little over 24 hours = water + CO2 generation
② Suppression of methane generation = greenhouse effect reduced to 1/25
3) Increase in phytoplankton
④ Revitalization of coastal fishery resources
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* Aerobically decomposes organic matter that accumulates in depressions on the seabed after dredging, reducing the generation of methane and hydrogen sulfide
① Upwelling of low-layer sediments (sludge, etc.)
②Contact with oxygen at the sea surface
③Aerobic decomposition
④ Suppression of blue tide and increase in phytoplankton
* Blue tide occurs due to wind from land, causing damage to fish and shellfish.
* Decomposes little by little in seafloor depressions 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Monitor sales catalogue ⇒here
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*Overseas cases
Off the coast of Hawaii, conducted by the University of Hawaii and the University of Oregon:
“Open ocean experiment using wave pump technology to control upwelling”
* summary
① Even small waves of a few centimeters can pump bottom water to the surface.
Demonstration tests conducted overseas so far have involved large upwelling pumps.
Many of these devices had check valve structures, which required a large displacement for upwelling.
②Improvements to the valve body and float buoy
* Wide left and right unequal valve opens and closes with minute amplitude
* Elastic material is used to generate closing force (usually gravity-type opening and closing)
*The beveled cut at the tip reduces both fluid resistance during ascent and drainage resistance.
*The buoy shape and uneven load give it a lifting effect.
3) DIY using generic products (low cost)
*Except for the check valve, sewer piping (VU pipes and fittings) available anywhere can be used.
* Old tires are used as the elastic body for opening and closing assistance
4. Easy to install, move, repair, remove and dispose of
*Upwelling pipes are PVC drainage pipes and are available cheaply anywhere in the country.
*Reduces waste separation work by using a single material
⑤ It has the effect of being combined with Stommel’s principle of permanent railway lines.
*The upwelling pipe is located near the water surface where the water temperature is high, so the principle of upwelling due to water temperature difference works even when there are no waves.
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Recruiting development project participants
Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of typhoons, heavy rains, and heavy snowfall.
It is known that typhoons rapidly intensify when sea surface temperatures reach 26.5°C or higher.
The characteristic of the wave upwelling pump is that the larger the wave (amplitude), the larger the volume of lower layer water it can pump up.
When the swells of a typhoon that occurred in the southern ocean arrive, the amount of upwelling increases dramatically (wave response effect).
This lowers the surrounding sea surface temperature, which is thought to control the development of the water.
In addition, during normal times, it cultivates the ocean, increases plankton, absorbs CO2, and revitalizes fishery resources.
NPO Escot is looking for individuals, companies, organizations, etc. to participate in our projects!
Project details here
Materials for project participating companies, organizations, and individuals
Monitor sales catalogue ⇒here
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*Examples/Paper
Testing on scallop farming rafts in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture
paper
Shibaura Institute of Technology Student Paper
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Overseas university theses (Japanese translation)
“Artificial upwelling using wave power to enhance fish stocks”
Brian Kirke*
School of Engineering, Griffith University Gold Coast Campus, PMB 50, Gold Coast Mail Centre, Australia
University of Hawaii, University of Oregon
“Open Ocean Experiments of Upwelling Control Using Wave Pump Technology”
ANGELICQUE WHITE
Department of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
KARINBJO¨RKMAN and ERIC GRABOWSKI
College of Marine and Earth Sciences and Technology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii
RICARDO LETELIER
Department of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
STEVE POULOS, BLAKE WATKINS, and DAVID KARL
College of Marine and Earth Sciences and Technology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii
Corporate and research institute papers
Miyagi Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station:
“Research on improving the meat content of cultured oysters by generating upwelling currents using natural energy”
Akira Kumagai and Akio Oshino
THE SEA FERTILIZATION EXPERIMENT BY UPWELLING DEEP
– TAKUMI PROJECT –Kazuyuki OUCHI, Ouchi Ocean Consultant, Inc.(C-11 Shiozawako Nomura, Karuizawa-machi, Nagano 389-0001 Japan)
Monitor sales catalogue ⇒here
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Research activities are funded by the financial support of the following members:
8 supporting members:
Support amount: 5,000 yen/month
Kyodo Freighters
Shift Service Co., Ltd.
Yoshida Transport Co., Ltd.
Suzuyo Motor Transport Co., Ltd.
Kuwa Warehouse Co., Ltd.
Yamaraku Transport Co., Ltd.
Aobara Transport Co. ,
Ltd. Maruyama Transport Co., Ltd.
Regular members: 41 companies:
Support amount: 1,000 yen/month
Tanita Corporation
Japan Management Association Research Institute
Japan Freightliner Co., Ltd.
Japan Freight Railway Company
Sirius Consulting Co., Ltd.
Hayakawa
Kairiku Yusou Co., Ltd. Gunma Jikahai Transport Co., Ltd.
Koriyama Truck Center Business Cooperative Association
Tokyo Boeki Transport Co.,
Ltd. Plandor Co., Ltd.
APT
Eishin Transport Co., Ltd. Yoshida Transportation Co., Ltd. Yamaniya Logistics Service Co., Ltd. Otake
Transportation Co., Ltd. Yashio Transportation Co. , Ltd. Hoyu Service Co., Ltd. Ibaraki Prefecture Transportation Business Cooperative Association Sano City Hall U-Palette (currently Desirée Co., Ltd.) EF International Co., Ltd. Kanto Service Co., Ltd. Tradeshift Japan Co., Ltd. Atom Logistics Co., Ltd. Noshiro Transportation Co., Ltd. Tri-Wall Japan Co., Ltd. Shirai Eco Center Co., Ltd. Eco Planning Co., Ltd. Takust Co. , Ltd. Lockit Global Kowa Transportation Co., Ltd. Tatsumi Transport Co., Ltd. OOCL Logistics (Japan) Co., Ltd. Kamio Masashi (Logistics Advisor) Gikogyo Co., Ltd. Minato Research Foundation Japan Transcity Co., Ltd. TRADE TECH JAPAN LLC. Takeshi Fujimoto (Doctor) Synthetic Corp. Japan Technology Co., Ltd. Oparts Co., Ltd. Marubeni Logistics Co., Ltd. International Forwarding Co., Ltd.