Chile | Launched a Scientific Expedition with China in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Focusing on Deep - Sea Biodiversity, Marine Ecosystems, Seismic Activity, and Climate Studies

Chile in partnership with China launched a three - months scientific expedition to explore the “Fosa de Atacama”, the Atacama Trench in the eastern Pacific Ocean, one of the most extreme and least explored places on the planet as reported by the Chilean outlet El Ciudadano. 

The expedition focuses on accurate studies linked to deep - sea biodiversity, chemosynthetic ecosystems, seismic activity to improve hazard, and climate, as well centred on biomedical research.  

The mission, covering 700 kilometres of the trench takes take place between January and March aboard the 94.45 - metre Chinese research vessel Tan Suo Yi Hao, operated by the Institute of Deep  -sea Science and Engineering CAS (IDSSE), considered one of the most advanced in the world in its category.

The vessel is equipped with 11 specialized laboratories including geological, geophysical, chemical, and comprehensive labs plus 2 detachable mobile labs. The Tan Sup Yi Hao serves as the primary platform for the 10.000 - metre class deep - sea manned submersible Fendouzhe ( Striver). 

Fendouzhe manned submersible is equipped with with state - of - the - art technology, including a robotic arm for sample collection. Already used in expeditions in the Arctic and in the Puysegur Trench in Oceania, this vehicle is the only one in its kind with the capacity to operate continuously in the deepest abyssal regions. 

The initiative aims to discover new species investigate biological processes, study deep - sea biodiversity, chemosynthetic and marine ecosystems and also accurate studies concerning geological processes about seismic activity, associated with the occurrence of large earthquakes and tsunami, marking a milestone in bilateral scientific cooperation. 

Further objectives include the identification of new forms of life adapted to extreme pressure conditions, as well as the search of molecules with the potential to promote advances in the area of biomedicine.

Another relevant objective of the expedition is to understand the role of the Atacama Trench in global climate systems. In particular rsearchers will look at its potential role as a natural carbon “recycler”, which could contribute to a better understanding of climate change.

Key Features of the Expedition: 

•    Location and Depth: The muission explores the Atacama Trench, targeting depths of up to 8.000 metres along a 700 - kilometres stretch. 
•    Technological Capability: The Fendhouze submersible, capable of exceeding 10.000 metres, allows scientists to directly observe and sample the deep – sea environment. 
•    Scientific Goals: Researchers are investigating biodiversity, studying geological, biological, and chemical processes, and researching the trench’s role in carbon cycling. 
•    Disaster Prevention: The study aims to understand seismic triggers for tsunamis, benefiting both nations’ understanding of Pacific Ocean hazards. 
•    Collaboration Effort: This is a major joint effort between Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chilean institutions, including the University of Concepción, supported by the UN – endorsed Global Exploration programmes. 

About the Atacama Trench:  

The Atacama Trench or Peru - Chile Trench, also called “Fosa de Atacama” in Chile, is situated about 160 km off the Chilean and Peruvian coasts in the Eastern Pacific, running parallel to the Andes Mountains. It is 5.900 kilometres long, 64 - 100 kilometres wide, and the deepest area, known as Richard Deep, reaches 8.065 metres. 

This oceanic trench in Earth’s crust marks the convergence and contact between the oceanic lithosphere of the Naza Plate and South American plates, hosting extreme, high - pressure, cold environments with unique endemic life and active methane seeps. 

The seafloor consists of volcanic ash, siliceous oozes, carbonated, and organic rich terrigenous deposits (turbidites). The trench boasts a unique biodiversity, hosting specialised, often colourless creatures, including three types of hadal snailfish and the predatory amphipod Dulcibella camanchaca.

At depths below 6.000 metres, the environment is defined by total darkness, temperatures near freezing, and pressure exceeding 1.000 times that of the surface. 

This is the first marine scientific mission carried out jointly by Chile and China and the first major international collaboration under the 10 - year Global Hadal Exploration Programme. The project is considered a milestone in the strategic partnership between the two countries and represents a significant advance aiming to illuminate the deepest, least explored parts of the world’s oceans and an expansion of knowledge about the hearth. 

Link 

https://tvbrics.com/es/news/china-y-chile-lanzan-una-misi-n-cient-fica-conjunta-en-el-oc-ano-pac-fico/