Amid US chip sanctions and climate pressure, China builds mighty ocean simulation system

Chinese researchers have unveiled the world’s most advanced ocean simulation system with a resolution of 1km (0.6 mile) – an unprecedented benchmark.

The simulation system, named LICOMK++ and developed by teams from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Atmospheric Physics and Computer Network Information Centre, has broken computational barriers to deliver unparalleled precision in modelling global ocean dynamics and climate patterns.

Dubbed an ocean “microscope”, the ultra-high-resolution simulator enables scientists to analyse intricate processes like eddies and heat transport with groundbreaking clarity, significantly enhancing predictions for extreme weather events such as typhoons, marine heatwaves and floods, state news agency Xinhua reported last Thursday.

The innovation underscores China’s push to overcome high-performance computing challenges and achieve self-reliance in critical technologies amid strict Western technology embargoes.

It aims to advance global climate research and empower agencies to refine disaster response strategies and coastal resilience planning, offering a lifeline as climate-related economic losses mount worldwide.