China’s New Record: Reaches Deepest point on the earth

An Unmanned submersible, Haidou 1 of China dived deep down to 10,907 metres to the world’s deepest point Mariana Trench.

Highlights

A team of scientists left for an expedition on April 23, 2020. The researchers tested acoustic detection, video transmission, high precision depth detection during the deep-sea diving operation.

China has been stepping efforts to develop deep sea technology to explore mining of natural resources from the sea. In 2011, China signed a deal with the International Seabed Authority to explore polymetallic sulfide for a period of 15 years in Indian Ocean. China was allocated 10,000 square kilometres in the Indian Ocean under the deal

International Seabed Authority

The International Seabed Authority was formed in 1994 under United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS). The authority organizes, regulates and controls mineral related activities in the international seabed area. The Authority became an observer at the United Nations in 1996.

The Headquarters of ISA is situated in Jamaica. It has 167 members.

India and ISA

India is also a member of ISA. In1987, India was the first country to receive the status of “Pioneer Investor” at ISA. India was allocated 1.5 lakh square kilo metres of Central Indian Ocean Basin for the exploration.

According to the Ministry of Earth Science, it was found under the exploration that there are 4.7 million tonnes of Nickel, 0.55 million tonnes of cobalt, 4.29 million tonnes of copper and 92.59 million tonnes of Manganese.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2020