China has commenced construction on a state-of-the-art research facility dedicated to the study of cold-seep ecosystems in Guangzhou, located in the southern province of Guangdong. The project, launched on Friday, is classified as a major national science and technology infrastructure initiative.

The facility aims to support cutting-edge fundamental research and high-tech advancements, focusing on the origins of life in extreme deep-sea environments and the sustainable development of deep-sea resources.

Cold seeps are areas on the ocean floor where hydrocarbon-rich fluids, including hydrogen sulfide and methane, seep out, fostering ecosystems that thrive under extreme conditions. These unique habitats are of growing scientific interest, yet studying them presents challenges due to the limitations of short-term and sporadic underwater probes deployed by manned submersibles and remotely operated vehicles. Such probes often fail to capture long-term biological migration patterns and the evolution of these ecosystems.

The upcoming research facility will integrate a manned deep-sea laboratory with a land-based fidelity simulation installation, enabling more comprehensive and continuous studies. According to the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which is leading the project, construction is expected to be completed within five years.

Once operational, the facility will play a crucial role in advancing research on cold-seep ecosystems, the succession of chemosynthetic organisms, the evolution of methane phases, and the environmental impact of these processes.