[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":88},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-hkust-successfully-completes-deep-sea-scientific-expedition-to-the-haima-cold-seep-in-the-south-china-sea":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"cover":75,"date":76,"description":71,"extension":77,"link":78,"meta":79,"navigation":80,"newsId":81,"path":82,"seo":83,"slug":84,"source":85,"stem":86,"__hash__":87},"news\u002Fnews\u002F50-hkust-successfully-completes-deep-sea-scientific-expedition-to-the-haima-cold-seep-in-the-south-china-sea.md","HKUST Successfully Completes Deep-Sea Scientific Expedition to the Haima Cold Seep in the South China Sea",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":70},"minimark",[9,14,18,21,39,49,59,62],[10,11,13],"h2",{"id":12},"advancing-deep-sea-cold-seep-and-methane-cycle-research-under-two-un-endorsed-decade-programmes","Advancing Deep-Sea Cold Seep and Methane Cycle Research Under Two UN-Endorsed Decade Programmes",[15,16,17],"p",{},"From April to May 2026, a research team from the Department of Ocean Science at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), led by Prof. Pei-Yuan Qian, Chair Professor of the Department of Ocean Science, successfully completed a deep-sea scientific expedition to the Haima cold seep in the South China Sea.",[15,19,20],{},"The expedition is officially endorsed under the UN “Ocean Decade” programme CliMetS and “Science Decade” programme MOCSI. Leveraging resources from HKUST’s Otto Poon Center for Climate Resilience and Sustainability and the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), the mission was strategically managed by the China Deep Ocean Affairs Administration and operationally executed by the National Deep Sea Center (MNR).",[22,23,24,25,24,30],"figure",{},"\n  ",[26,27],"img",{"src":28,"style":29},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.meteonex.hkust.edu.hk\u002Fportals\u002FCCRS\u002Fpublic\u002Fimages\u002Fnews\u002Fjiaolong1.png","width: 70%",[31,32,33,34,38],"figcaption",{},"\n    ",[35,36,37],"i",{},"Jiaolong"," manned submersible equipped with various tools for sediment, water, and biological sampling\n  ",[15,40,41,42,44,45,48],{},"Using the research vessel Shenhai Yihao and the manned submersible ",[35,43,37],{},", the research team conducted ",[35,46,47],{},"in situ observations"," and collected a variety of valuable biological, sediment, and water samples. The subsequent research outcomes are expected to significantly advance the scientific community’s understanding of the South China Sea cold seep systems and global deep-sea methane cycling.",[22,50,24,51,24,54],{},[26,52],{"src":53,"style":29},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.meteonex.hkust.edu.hk\u002Fportals\u002FCCRS\u002Fpublic\u002Fimages\u002Fnews\u002Fjiaolong2.png",[31,55,33,56,58],{},[35,57,37],{}," manned submersible moments before water entry\n  ",[15,60,61],{},"Remarkably, 11 of the 15 early-career researchers from HKUST carried out diving operations aboard Jiaolong—the first time such a large cohort of young Hong Kong scholars has taken part in manned deep-diving at this intensity. This milestone provides a strong foundation for cultivating the next generation of marine science talent and further strengthening Hong Kong’s deep-sea research capabilities. It also represents a major step forward for Hong Kong researchers in engaging with China’s national deep-sea research platforms and international programmes.",[22,63,24,64,24,67],{},[26,65],{"src":66,"style":29},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.meteonex.hkust.edu.hk\u002Fportals\u002FCCRS\u002Fpublic\u002Fimages\u002Fnews\u002Fjiaolong3.png",[31,68,69],{},"\n    Group Photo of HKUST Participants with Chief Scientist Dr. Hao Wang (first on the right, ground row)\n  ",{"title":71,"searchDepth":72,"depth":72,"links":73},"",2,[74],{"id":12,"depth":72,"text":13},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.meteonex.hkust.edu.hk\u002Fportals\u002FCCRS\u002Fpublic\u002Fimages\u002Fnews\u002Fcover\u002Fid50.png","2026-07-03","md",null,{},true,50,"\u002Fnews\u002F50-hkust-successfully-completes-deep-sea-scientific-expedition-to-the-haima-cold-seep-in-the-south-china-sea",{"title":5,"description":71},"hkust-successfully-completes-deep-sea-scientific-expedition-to-the-haima-cold-seep-in-the-south-china-sea","local","news\u002F50-hkust-successfully-completes-deep-sea-scientific-expedition-to-the-haima-cold-seep-in-the-south-china-sea","aHiLd-ZaKlpzFk-piSbjg_K9YjmhcycgZSWEig1FGDo",1792997702757]