Chinese scientists dive into South China Sea’s dangerous internal waves
- Researchers say they have tested a device that better detect underwater hazards
- Data from the sensors will help build a better picture of the currents, they say
In a paper in the domestic peer-reviewed journal Earth Science Frontiers on Saturday, the researchers said the 1.4-tonne sensor could operate on the sea floor for weeks and surface in response to a signal from a mother ship.
“[The sensors will gather] a large amount of on-site observational data urgently needed to further reveal the mechanism of internal solitary waves on the seabed,” Professor Jia Yonggang and colleagues with the Ocean University of China said in a paper.
Underwater currents known as internal waves are a serious hazard in the South China Sea.
They are caused when water of different densities passes over obstacles on the ocean floor such as a ridge, creating turbulence.
Some waves can stretch over 100km (62 miles) long and rapidly drag submarines to crushing depths, according to various studies.
In recent years, Chinese researchers found these powerful waves not only posed a direct threat to naval activities, but could also cause unexpected changes to the landscape below the surface, such as blocking channels or creating a sand dune out of nowhere.