China and Indonesia Conclude Inaugural Joint Scientific Expedition in Java Trench
Java, The Gulf Observer: China and Indonesia have successfully completed their maiden joint scientific expedition in the Java Trench, situated in the Indian Ocean. The research vessel Tansuo-1 (Discovery One), accompanied by the deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe (Striver), returned to Sanya City, located in south China’s Hainan Province, on Thursday, marking the conclusion of the groundbreaking expedition.
Conducted in collaboration between the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency, the joint expedition brought together a team of experts from 11 universities and institutions from both countries. Departing from Sanya on February 8, the expedition embarked on a 50-day voyage dedicated to deep-sea diving missions within the Java Trench.
The Fendouzhe submersible successfully completed 22 dives in the trench, with 14 reaching depths exceeding 6,000 meters. A significant milestone was achieved when scientists jointly executed a diving mission to the deepest point of the trench, reaching a depth of 7,180.4 meters—a feat that established a new record for Indonesia’s deepest dive.
Throughout the expedition, samples of macrobenthos, rocks, and sediments were meticulously collected, while high-definition videos and photographs were captured to document the underwater terrain and biodiversity.
Du Mengran, a research fellow at the CAS Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, highlighted some of the remarkable discoveries made during the expedition. “We identified two active low-temperature hydrothermal vent sites within the Java Trench, where hydrothermal vent fluids serve as vital food and energy sources for benthic organisms. Additionally, we observed layers of iron oxide-rich sediment at the trench’s seabed,” noted Du.
These findings represent significant contributions to our understanding of the unique geological phenomena and biodiversity within the Java Trench, shedding light on the intricate interplay between geology and marine life.
Moreover, the successful collaboration between China and Indonesia in this inaugural joint scientific expedition signifies a new chapter in maritime cooperation between the two nations. This endeavor promises to deepen our comprehension of geological processes in the abyssal zone and the evolutionary dynamics of our planet.
