Despite restrictions from the US, Chinese scientists have developed the world’s most accurate ocean simulator, called LICOMK++, which models global water processes with a resolution of 1 km. This was a breakthrough in climate modeling.
Despite restrictions from the US, Chinese scientists have developed the world’s most accurate ocean simulator, called LICOMK++, which models global water processes with a resolution of 1 km. This was a breakthrough in climate modeling.
The new system was introduced by researchers from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in collaboration with the Center for Computer Network Technology. According to Xinhua, LICOMK++ is the first simulator that allows tracking ocean processes — such as micro-eddies, heat and carbon transport — in details previously inaccessible to science.
LICOMK++ runs on one of the most powerful Chinese supercomputers, «OceanLight» (sometimes referred to as Tianhe-3 or Sunway in the context of previous models), built on the basis of China’s own processors, without the use of Western chips.
Main system characteristics:
The simulator was China’s response to the United States' strict export restrictions on advanced semiconductors. The developers circumvented the lack of computing power through unique software solutions and high-performance architectures, which allowed them to reach a level that even Western supercomputers cannot reach.
In 2024, LICOMK++ won the grand prize at HPC China, the leading supercomputing technology exhibition. It was also a finalist for the prestigious international Gordon Bell Prize, which is awarded for breakthrough scientific developments in the field of high-performance computing.
The ocean absorbs more than 90% of the heat associated with global warming and about 30% of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activities. Understanding its behavior is key to more accurately predicting climate disasters such as storms, droughts and rising sea levels.
With LICOMK++, Chinese meteorologists can now send more accurate data to international agencies, improving global models and coastal risk planning. Amid trade restrictions, the technology also underscores China’s pursuit of technological sovereignty in key industries.
And what about the problem of ocean pollution? We have news about the latest development of scientists from Switzerland. They have created small robots that purify water and are biodegradable and completely safe for the environment.
