Chinese scientists have reported that they have tested a monitoring device in the South China Sea capable of detecting subsurface currents or internal waves that could pose dangers to submarines.
In an article published in the scientific journal Earth Science Frontiers, the researchers stated that the 1.4-ton sensor can operate on the seabed and at the surface for several weeks, responding to signals from a mother ship.
Sensor device deployed in the South China Sea to collect subsurface wave data. (Photo: Earth Science Frontiers)
“The sensors will collect a large amount of data through in-situ observations, which are considered essential for further clarifying the mechanisms of internal waves beneath the seabed,” said Professor Jia Yonggang and his colleagues from the Ocean University of China.
Subsurface currents and internal waves pose a serious threat in the South China Sea. They are generated when water currents of different densities pass over underwater obstacles, such as submarine ridges, creating turbulence. Some internal waves can extend over 100 kilometers and quickly pull submarines down to destructive depths, according to several studies.
In recent years, researchers have found that these internal waves not only directly threaten naval operations but can also cause unexpected changes to the underwater terrain, such as blocking channels or creating sandbars on the seabed.
China is reported to have built one of the largest ocean monitoring networks in the South China Sea. Researchers noted that the new device can operate on the seabed for several weeks, detecting information earlier and over a wider range. Scientist Jia Yonggang and his research team stated that the data obtained will help researchers create more accurate models to determine the formation, dispersion, and strength of internal waves in maritime regions.
In the article, the researchers mentioned that they conducted two testing phases of the device in the South China Sea in 2020, deploying it to the seabed at depths of 600 meters and 1,400 meters. There was a minor incident with the device, but the researchers reported that they were still able to collect sufficient data. The main component of the device is a Doppler flow profiler manufactured by Teledyne RD Instruments, a U.S. company that also provides similar hardware to the U.S. Navy.
Last week, the U.S. military reported that the nuclear submarine USS Connecticut was damaged after colliding with a “foreign object” in the South China Sea. Following the collision, the vessel was forced to surface and return to its base in Guam. U.S. authorities did not provide details about the incident involving the USS Connecticut, but some observers suggested that this was an unusual occurrence since the Seawolf-class submarine is equipped with advanced navigation and sensor systems. China has urged the U.S. to disclose more information about the incident.
