China launches 15th western Pacific expedition featuring LangYa sensing and forecasting framework

A drone photo taken on July 4, 2026 shows China's comprehensive research vessel KEXUE at a port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. KEXUE departed here on Saturday for an estimated 40-day mission in the western Pacific, marking the 15th voyage of a shared research cruise that began in 2010. Research will span air-sea interaction, physical oceanography, marine biology, chemistry and seafloor geology. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)