Recently, the multi-type domestically produced in-situ marine biogeochemical sensors developed by a research team led by Wu Guojun, a researcher at the Xi'an Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (Xi'an Optics and Fine Mechanics Institute) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, successfully completed multi-platform and multi-scenario deep-sea application verification. This marks a key transition in China's field from "following" to "parallel and partial leading," completely breaking the long-term passive situation of relying on imported equipment.
The variations in the carbon cycle in the deep ocean, the dynamics of marine ecosystems, and the patterns of material transport are the keys to deciphering the global climate change and marine ecological security codes. Currently, international marine biogeochemical observation technologies are rapidly advancing toward "multi-platform, long-time-series, and high-resolution" upgrades. The United States and Europe have established a three-dimensional observation network based on mobile platforms such as Argo floats and underwater gliders. In contrast, China previously relied primarily on ship-based surveys and fixed station monitoring in the field of deep-sea mobile observation, which had limitations such as "short cycles and low coverage," making it difficult to meet the needs for long-time-series, high-resolution dynamic monitoring of deep-sea environments.
To address the core challenge of precise measurement of biogeochemical parameters in complex marine environments, Wu Guojun's team collaborated with Lao Mountain Laboratory, the National Marine Technology Center, Xiamen University, the Second Institute of Oceanography of the Ministry of Natural Resources, and other institutions. They made breakthroughs in key technologies such as environmental interference mechanisms and correction, sensor drift self-calibration, multi-band excitation classification measurement, and multi-component mixed spectral analysis. They successfully developed a series of in-situ marine biogeochemical sensors covering seven key parameters, including dissolved oxygen, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chlorophyll, colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), nitrate, downwelling irradiance, and pH. This achievement formed a domestic technical solution for "multi-element collaborative observation," filling the gap in synchronous measurement of biogeochemical parameters for deep-sea mobile platforms in China.
To verify the technical reliability, the team conducted deep-sea tests by equipping multiple types of sensors on domestically produced "Haiyan" series underwater gliders and "HM 2000" series Argo floats. During the tests, the team achieved the world's first multi-parameter, deep-sea (over 6,000 meters), and long-term (continuous 3 months) profile observation of marine biogeochemistry based on a glider platform, with a data integrity rate exceeding 95%. Additionally, the team completed China's first long-term in-situ profile observation of multiple parameters (dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrate, etc.) using an Argo platform, with a single device operating continuously for over a year. The observation accuracy of key parameters (e.g., dissolved oxygen and pH reaching ±0.1% FS) was comparable to mainstream international products (e.g., Sea-Bird, Aanderaa), while some indicators (e.g., detection limit for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) surpassed them.
This achievement not only provides high-precision observational tools for marine carbon cycle flux calculations, ecosystem response mechanisms, and deep-sea material transport research, but also strongly supports China's deep-sea resource and environmental surveys, the construction of a three-dimensional marine observation system, and the assessment of marine carbon sinks under the "dual carbon" goals, laying a "sensing cornerstone" for the strategy of building a maritime power. Wu Guojun stated that the team will continue to optimize sensor performance, expand the measurement capabilities of nutrients such as iron and silicon, accelerate technological transformation and application, and propel China from "deep-sea exploration" to "leadership.".
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