Scientists, at the Lab of Marine Geology and Environment under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has successfully developed an instrument able to measure the temperature, salinity, and pressure of deep sea hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. The instrument has been proved effective in a sea based test launched recently. The subsurface buoy is able to descend to the target hydrothermal vent or cold seep in line with the preset program, or under an external instruction, measuring temperature, salinity, and pressure at deep sea hydrothermal vent and cold seep using the aboard sensors, and sending the collected data back to the control center.

Not long ago, researchers tested the instruments in a sea area near Sanya. The instrument, reaching a depth of 1300m over a groove near the Xisha Island, was tested for 5 indicators, including balance, descending depth, positioning, data transmission, and ascending. The test shows that the subsurface buoy enjoys a fine voice communication, high positioning accuracy, reliable data, strong utilities, and environment adaptability.