Combining the Hydrography Research Center, established in 1965, and the Key Laboratory of Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, established in 1987, together, the Key Laboratory of Geophysical Fluid Dynamics and Numerical Modeling (LAGFD) of Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) was launched in 1997, and in 2001 got renamed as the Laboratory of Marine Science and Numerical Modeling (MASNUM).

Taking aim at national major needs of economical construction, maritime rights/interests and military security, MASNUM hopes to enhance understanding of ocean dynamic processes and principles of China coastal waters and global oceans, and contribute more to China’s sustainable development from its marine study. Giving the research priority to physical oceanography and related marine environmental sciences, MASNUM develops technologies of oceanographic survey, numerical modeling, data analysis and information by using math and physical approaches, and learns marine environment and its evolution mechanism in field investigations, experiments, remote sensing and numerical modeling. MASNUM defines ocean dynamics the research direction for the Lab since its establishment, proposes ocean dynamic system and has developed advanced ocean wave and current numerical models, coupled wind-wave-current models and ecological dynamical models, making significant achievements in wave dynamics, ocean circulation, tide and tidal current, and global climate change. Besides being the impetus of marine science and technology, MASNUM also acts as a supporting force for coastal engineering, offshore oil-gas field development, and maritime safety. 

MASNUM now has 81 research staff members, including two academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, one specially-employed academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and one academician of the American Academy of Engineering (also the Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering), 15 research fellows, and 23 research associates. The researchers under age of 45 account for 81%, including 63 doctors. 6 of them receive special government allowances.

The Lab is equipped with super computers which can calculate over 26 trillion times per second and store 700T, and 100 investigation instruments valued more than RMB 10 thousand. The total value of equipment is over RMB 100 million.

MASNUM has been involved in more than 10 international cooperation projects, and positively driven the China-Indonesia and China-ASEAN cooperation in marine science and technology. Currently 4 researchers of MASNUM are working also for international organizations.

Research Priorities

Regional ocean dynamics

● Ocean dynamics in marginal seas

● Ocean circulation and tidal dynamics

● Ocean dynamics in polar regions

● Applied ocean acoustics

Ocean dynamic system and interaction mechanisms

● Ocean turbulence and mixing process

● Ocean wave dynamics

● Eddy and circulation dynamics

Numerical modeling of ocean dynamic system

● Sub-system numerical modeling and application

● Coupled numerical modeling of ocean and climate

Data analysis and application

● R&D of data analysis methods

● Data analysis in oceanography, climate change, etc.

Support for marine science & technology and construction of engineering application platform

● Development of monitoring technologies and construction of engineering application platform

● Construction of numerical modeling platform

● Construction of science & technology supporting platform for key marine projects and events.