Recent discoveries by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have highlighted planets that may be entirely covered by water.
China operates a growing fleet of Type 636/636A distant-ocean survey ships. These vessels are equipped with "gondolas" (retractable structures) and acoustic sensors to map the seabed without interference from bubbles. Distant Ocean
These missions collect "bathymetric" data (sea depth and contours) and meteorological info. This is critical for undersea warfare , as temperature and salinity data help submarine commanders elude detection and improve sonar performance. Recent discoveries by the James Webb Space Telescope
China Maritime Report No. 3: China’s Distant-Ocean Survey Activities Distant Ocean
Reports from the U.S. Naval War College note that the PLAN's distant-ocean survey fleet has more than tripled since 2015. 3. Other Interpretations