The earth science department of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) brought out lately a draft report on the research and advice for the nation's middle-and-long-term development strategy in earth science, said Zhao Zhongxian, a CAS member, on Sept 27. That constitutes six strategic orientations for the studies of the earth in the two decades to come.

The six major orientations are: 1> the physical, chemical and biological process of the planet earth with their synergistic evolution; 2> the physical and bio-geo-chemical processes of ocean and environment effect of their resources; 3> land surface process, calamities for resources environment, human activities and sustainable development; 4> the changes of climate system and space weather and the forecasting of their tendencies; 5> global change and monsoon Asia¡ªthe evolution of arid environment system; 6> the forming mechanism, new exploration technology and utilization possibilities of petroleum, natural gas and other important mineral resources.

According to the general plan of the nation's strategy for sci-tech development, various departments under CAS have conducted researches focusing on the world's sci-tech frontline, Zhao Zhongxian, an academician revealed the news at CAS's forum on middle-and-long-term development plan and strategic researches. Twenty groups have now been set up, each bending on strategic researches of a certain subject.

CAS also decided to construct two related platforms for researches and on the two engineering projects for the six major orientations, Zhao added. The platforms include an observation and testing system, as well as an information and simulation system. The projects include sci-tech information system of the earth space and exploration in the space depth for the moon and the Mars.
(People's Daily   October 02, 2003)