{"id":2282,"date":"2026-07-22T01:33:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T01:33:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/imo.udec.cl\/?page_id=2282"},"modified":"2026-07-28T18:25:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T18:25:13","slug":"jcate","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/imo.udec.cl\/en\/expediciones-y-observatorio\/expediciones-internacionales\/jcate\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a0JCATE"},"content":{"rendered":"
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JCATE<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n
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General Description and Scientific Significance<\/span><\/p>\n

The JCATE (Joint China\u2013Chile Atacama Trench Expedition), conducted between January and March 2026, represents the most ambitious scientific campaign ever carried out in the Atacama Trench. The mission was jointly led by the Millennium Institute of Oceanography (IMO) at the University of Concepci\u00f3n and the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering (IDSSE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), consolidating a strategic partnership between Chile and China for deep-ocean research.<\/span><\/p>\n

The expedition was carried out aboard the research vessel Tansuo-1, using the crewed submersible Fendouzhe, one of the world's most advanced deep-diving platforms, certified to operate at depths exceeding 10,000 meters. This infrastructure enabled a systematic investigation of the Atacama Trench through multiple crewed dives, direct observations, high-precision biological and geological sampling, and large-scale oceanographic surveys.<\/span><\/p>\n

Throughout the expedition, dozens of research stations were conducted to investigate hadal biodiversity, tectonic processes associated with the subduction zone, the microbiology of extreme environments, carbon transport, and the occurrence of chemosynthetic ecosystems (cold seeps). These operations generated one of the most comprehensive datasets ever collected for the Atacama Trench.<\/p>\n

JCATE also marked a milestone for Chilean participation in deep-sea exploration. IMO postdoctoral researcher Dr. Valeria Cort\u00e9s became the first woman to descend into the Atacama Trench, reaching a depth of 7,680 meters aboard the Fendouzhe. Subsequently, geologist Paola Pe\u00f1a became the first representative of the Chilean government to conduct a scientific dive into the hadal zone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond its technological and scientific achievements, JCATE established the Atacama Trench as one of the world's leading natural laboratories for investigating geodynamic processes, biodiversity, and the functioning of the deep ocean. The expedition strengthened international scientific cooperation and reaffirmed IMO's leadership in hadal research, opening new opportunities for future deep-ocean exploration campaigns in the southeastern Pacific.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Scientific Objectives<\/b><\/p>\n