Chinese researchers claim to have developed the world’s most advanced ocean simulation system, achieving an unprecedented resolution of 0.6 miles (1 kilometer).

This breakthrough marks a significant milestone in global ocean modeling and comes despite strict U.S. export controls on advanced semiconductors.

Figure 1. First Ocean's Microscope.

Developed by teams from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics and the Computer Network Information Centre under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the new system—named LICOMK++—offers unparalleled precision in simulating ocean behavior and its interactions with climate systems. Figure 1 shows First Ocean's microscope.

According to China’s state news agency Xinhua, LICOMK++ functions like an “ocean microscope,” enabling scientists to model intricate processes such as eddies and heat transport that were previously beyond the reach of global-scale simulations. This leap in accuracy is expected to greatly enhance forecasts for typhoons, floods, and marine heatwaves.

Advancing Toward Technological Independence and Climate Adaptation

The innovation showcases China’s growing push for technological self-reliance in critical fields, especially under tightening Western technology restrictions [1]. Despite limited access to advanced semiconductors, researchers broke through performance bottlenecks using custom algorithms and optimized coding techniques.

“The key to improving climate prediction accuracy lies in ocean simulation,” the research team explained. However, high-resolution simulations demand immense computing power—a long-standing obstacle in climate science.

LICOMK++ is the first system in the world capable of simulating global oceans at such a fine scale. With this new capability, Chinese scientists can contribute to improving global climate forecasts and refining models used for coastal planning and disaster mitigation.

Oceans are crucial in regulating Earth’s climate, absorbing over 90% of excess heat from global warming and more than 30% of carbon dioxide emissions from human activities. Accurately simulating these dynamics is essential to better understand and respond to climate change.

Global Acclaim and Real-World Impact

LICOMK++ has already earned significant recognition. It won the top supercomputing application award at HPC China 2024, hosted by the China Computer Federation. It was also named one of three global finalists for the prestigious Gordon Bell Prize in 2023, a leading international award for breakthroughs in high-performance computing.

Reference:

1. https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/chinas-ocean-simulator-us-curbs

Cite this article:

Keerthana S (2025), Chinese Scientists Unveil World's Most Advanced Ocean Simulator, Defying U.S. Tech Restrictions, AnaTechMaz, pp.319