China takes lead in mapping the deep

Subject :Geography

Section: Physical geography

Concept :

Departing from Sanya’s Institute of Deep Sea Science and Engineering (IDSSE), Explorer 2 ( a green-white vessel) makes frequent forays in some of the least explored parts of the world’s ocean
It carries with it one of the most advanced deep-sea submersibles.
It should be noted that China aims to dominate the emerging and highly competitive field of deep-sea exploration.
Apart from China, only the U.S., France, and Russia have similar capabilities.
China, the U.S., Russia, Germany, France, and even India (though to a lesser extent), are competing for exploration contracts to search the vast areas under the jurisdiction of the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
China has secured several exploration licences in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Explorer 2 Vessel

China’s scientific research vessel Explorer 2, carrying the 4,500-meter manned submersible ShenhaiYongshi (Deep-sea Warrior), returned to Sanya in south China’s Hainan Province on Sunday, after completing its latest missions over the past 10 days.
Since setting off from Sanya on September 16, the ship with 60 scientific research staff aboard has completed in-situ observation of the deep-sea geological features and sea trial tasks of domestic equipment in the South China Sea.
It conducted functional tests on self-developed scientific research devices carried by ShenhaiYongshi, including a sampler for deep-sea sediments and deep-sea three-dimensional sensing equipment.

China’s Deep Sea Exploration Mission:

In 2020, IDSSE launched a mission that sent a manned submersible, Fendouzhe (or Striver) to a record depth of more than 10,000 metres. Its success was highly appreciated by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Striver explored the Mariana Trench in December 2021. It discovered new microbes and a rich food supply system.
The submersible observed for the first time anemones at a depth of around 8,880 metres and fish feeding on shark remains at 9,900 metres at the Kermadec Trench in the Pacific Ocean.
The Kermadec project was run in collaboration with New Zealand.
The mission of IDSSE is jointly run by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (premier scientific institution) and the Hainan provincial government.
It aims to establish China as a science and technology power. Its mission is to create “a China-led global deep-sea scientific research programme with joint participation by numerous major international deep-sea research teams”.