Simulating Collisions of 2D Deep-Sea Mining Turbidity Currents

With the prospect of deep-sea mining starting in the near future, it is important to characterize the effects that mining vehicles can have on ocean floor ecosystems, particularly as they generate currents of suspended particles. We focus here on simulating colliding turbidity currents modelling the currents created by multiple vehicles. As the height of these currents is small relative to the horizontal distance they spread along the seabed, we model this behavior using the shallow-water equations. We explore the two-horizontal-dimensions case (2D) using a two-stage Runge-Kutta finite volume WENO method. We compare our results with collisions in 1D systems, previously studied. We describe when the 1D system approximates the 2D problem well, and characterize collisions in the regime where they differ. In doing so, we aim to understand and quantify the environmental impact of the mining process, notably through the deposits left behind. Time permitting, we will also present simulations including two moving sources.