China has marked a new milestone in polar exploration as its crewed submersible Jiaolong has successfully completed more than ten deep dives beneath the Arctic ice as part of the Ocean Voyage 92 expedition. After an extensive upgrade and trials in the South China Sea, the submersible entered full polar operations earlier this summer.
The mission set off from the city of Qingdao in Shandong Province on the Chinese mainland on July 15, 2025, aboard the research vessel Shenhai Yihao (Deep Sea No. 1). Supported by the polar scientific research icebreaker Xuelong 2, the fleet conducted a range of activities, including manned dives, ROV surveys and water sampling using a CTD (Conductivity-Temperature-Depth Profiler).
Early analysis of high-definition images processed by AI revealed striking variations in the density, biodiversity and size of benthic organisms across spatial scales of tens to hundreds of kilometers. These patterns appear linked to seabed topography, geomorphology and water depth, offering new clues for conservation efforts and the creation of a detailed biodiversity map of polar sea areas.
Perhaps most intriguing is the discovery of suspected pockmarks, dissolved holes, carbonate rocks and banded shell relics1 evidence of historical cold seep eruptions. These findings shed light on methane migration channels in the Arctic’s geological past, deepening our understanding of how greenhouse gases have moved through the region.
By diving deeper and longer than before, Jiaolong is rewriting the story of the Arctic seafloor. The data collected not only advances scientific knowledge of deep-sea ecosystems but also fuels global discussions on climate resilience and ocean conservation. As nations look north for strategic and environmental insights, the submersible’s feats prove that cooperation, technology and data-driven exploration remain crucial to unlocking Earth’s final frontier.
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China's Jiaolong completes over 10 manned deep dives in the Arctic
cgtn.com
