Chinese team maps South China Sea floor at twice the resolution of Western models
Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
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- Chinese scientists say they have mapped the seabed in China’s claimed waters, including the South China Sea, at twice the resolution of Western models.
- The project reportedly achieved up to five times the accuracy of methods used by other countries after more than two decades of work.
- The importance of detailed seabed maps was highlighted by the 2021 collision of the USS Connecticut with an uncharted seamount in the South China Sea.
A Chinese team says it has mapped the seabed across waters claimed by China, including the South China Sea, with twice the resolution of Western models and up to five times their accuracy.
Scientists involved in the project said the work took more than two decades. The mapping effort covers waters whose ownership China claims.
The risks of operating without detailed seabed information became clear in October 2021, when the US Navy’s Seawolf-class nuclear submarine USS Connecticut struck an uncharted seamount while submerged in the South China Sea. The collision grounded the vessel.
About this summary
Originally published by South China Morning Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
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