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

Name: Can China claim the leadership mantle after the US quits the WHO and Paris Agreement?
Uploaded: 2025-05-12T04:00:09.000Z
Duration: 6 min 23 s
Description: Can China claim the leadership mantle after the US quits the WHO and Paris Agreement?

Clarity offered by ultra-high-resolution ocean ‘microscope’ will help scientists better predict extreme weather events, Xinhua report says

Reading Time:2 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

System developed by teams from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Atmospheric Physics and Computer Network Information Centre delivers unparalleled precision in modelling global ocean dynamics and climate patterns. Photo: Shutterstock

Dannie Pengin Beijing

Published: 12:00pm, 12 May 2025

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

The feat defies technological restrictions imposed by US semiconductor export controls designed to hobble China’s supercomputing sector.

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.

06:23

Can China claim the leadership mantle after the US quits the WHO and Paris Agreement?