In March 2017, the National Development and Reform Commission of China formally approved the “National Major Science and Technology Infrastructure Project of Seafloor Scientific Observation Network”, a project led by Tongji University.
The National Seafloor Scientific Observation Network project will build scientific observation networks based on the connection of photoelectric composite cables on the seafloor of the East China Sea and the South China Sea respectively. It can realize full-scale, comprehensive, real-time high-resolution observations from seafloor to sea surface. At the same time, it will build a monitoring and data center in Shanghai. After its completion, the network will focus on four key scientific issues such as land-sea interaction, marine carbon cycle processes, ocean circulation and sediment transport, and submarine processes. The National Seafloor Scientific Observation Network will finally become an internationally advanced marine observation and research facility with an overall international level. It will establish an open and shared major scientific platform for Chinese and oversea marine scientific research.
