OSE students conduct scientific fieldwork in the South China Sea
Chris Edwards | 09/18/2020

The Department of Ocean Science and Engineering (OSE) at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) has continued to enhance its postgraduate students’ research experience. Doctoral students Fukang QI and Yuping YANG (Professor Jingping XU‘s research group) & Xin ZHAO and Wenpeng LI (Assistant Professor Xinxin LI‘s research group) all joined different research vessels heading into the South China Sea.

The South China Sea is the largest sea area and the deepest body of offshore water in China. It is also an excellent area for marine research. The marine dynamics, thermal ecology, and geological environment of the northeastern South China Sea are complex and changeable. Many maritime scholars have spent considerable time in this area for their research.

The focus of the two scientific research voyages was the Luzon Strait, which lies between Taiwan Province and the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It connects the South China Sea with the Philippine Sea in the western Pacific Ocean.

Between August 2 and September 7, doctoral students Xin ZHAO and Wenpeng LI joined the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) voyage on the Dongfanghong-3 scientific research expedition. Their voyage in the Luzon Strait saw the students take part in comprehensive surveys of biogeochemical processes and element cycles in the Manila Trench, while also taking samples.

From August 12 to September 10, doctoral students Fukang QI and Yuping YANG conducted geological sampling work on the Xiangyang Hong No. 18 scientific research vessel. It was their first experience working on a scientific research vessel, so they needed to overcome the unusual environmental factors. Both Fukang and Yuping completed 40 CTD (temperature salt depth profiler) operations, 36 gravity column samples, 21 box samples, 22 grab samples, 11 benthic towing nest, and 25 multi-beam survey lines.

The experience provided both students with valuable data and samples for their research projects.

2020, 09-18
By Chris Edwards

From the Series

Research

Proofread ByYingying XIA

Photo ByDepartment of Ocean Science and Engineering

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