China builds observation system in western Pacific ocean

Beijing: China has built an observation network backed by submerged buoys in the west Pacific which will help scientists understand the relationship between the ocean currents and climate change, state media reported today.

China's research vessel Kexue or "science," returned to the eastern port city of Qingdao today after wrapping up a 77-day expedition covering 11,000 nautical miles, during which it recovered 15 sets of deep-sea buoys in the west Pacific and retrieved more than 380 pieces of observation equipment, the Institute of Oceanology said.

Wang Fan, the voyage's chief scientist, said another 13 sets of submerged  buoys and more than 350 pieces of observation equipment have been placed there, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

"With the retrieved buoys, we have obtained valuable scientific statistics about ocean temperature, salinity and circulation for a year over the tropical West Pacific," Wang said.

The data will help scientists better understand the relationship between the ocean currents in the western Pacific and China's climate change, he said.

Wang said the successful retrieval of the buoys is an indication that China "has built its own observation network for scientific research over the tropical West Pacific."

China completed large-scale installation of submerged buoys in the western Pacific ocean for the first time in October last year.