Deep Sea: The Arena In The 21st Century

Wang+Pinxian

Enter in the sea like a clay ox”, the ocean has always been considered as the ending of all things on earth. Especially for the deep sea without light, it has been considered as a dead world without life or movement for a long period. Now situation has changed: deep sea animals were discovered in the 19th century, and the movement of deep sea water and crustal were discovered in the 20th century. The discovery of deep-sea hydrothermal and cold spring during the recent 30 years revealed that there existed matters and energy from the earths interior in the seabed. The discovery of “dark food chain” and “ the deep biosphere” showed that there was another biosphere without solar.

Therefore the deep sea of the 21st century is gradually becoming a new target for people to explore. The modern marine economy is expanding its domains from “benefits of fishing, salt and ships” to the deep sea. The out-put of oil gas in the deep sea takes up more than a half of the marine economys total value, its on the top of the list of marine industry. The “combustible ice” of deep sea may become the most important energy source in the new century. Its supposed that 2/3 of the whole worlds microorganisms are living in “the deep biosphere” under the sea, the prospect of the microorganisms development and utilization is still difficult to estimate now.

The new opportunity of exploiting the deep sea will bring about the political battle over the ocean. The battle for the international seabed caused by todays great discovery of deep sea relies on high-tech firstly. Different from the sea surface means of exploiting the seabed are all high-techs. The deeper the sea is, the higher the scientific content is. In recent years, China pays unprecedented attention to the development of marine science and technology. The prominent technologies on the scientific level are the “three deep” techniques: “deep diving”, “deep network” and “deep drilling”, which includes the “Jiaolong” manned bathyscaph and all kinds of unmanned bathyscaph, the developing underwater observation network of our country, as well as the second time of ocean drilling in the south China sea just completed not long ago. In the development of the “three deep”, we can hear the footsteps of our country marching for the deep sea.

Now our ocean industry encounters a good development opportunity since 600 years ago. However, the gap between our country and the world doesnt allow us running after the predecessors little by little. What we can do is to aiming at the leading edge and developing rapidly through unusual ways, and entering into the arena of deep sea exploiting. Meanwhile, to strengthen peoples awareness about ocean, carry forward the ocean civilization, cultivate the youths love of the ocean are also necessary condition for developing powerful nation of the ocean. For this reason, we have to congratulate for the publishing of the “knowledge is Power” sspecial issue on ocean. Meanwhile, we should remember that Chinas suffering aggression from other powers in the 19th century started from the ocean, then in the 21st centurys re-energizing of China, we should keep a foothold in the world in the competition on the ocean!