Space, atmospheric, ocean, and environmental optics are pivotal domains that integrate scientific inquiry with practical applications, driving progress in fundamental science and technology. These fields address critical national and global challenges, including climate change, environmental monitoring, carbon neutrality, and national defense. By merging optics with disciplines such as information science, physics, chemistry, and earth sciences, they generate innovative tools for exploring scientific principles and solving real-world problems. These technologies play an indispensable role in fostering sustainable development, enhancing disaster prevention, and bolstering national resilience amid environmental and geopolitical challenges. The strategic importance of these fields is reflected in the National Natural Science Foundation of China’s (NSFC) prioritization of research under its F0510 funding category. This initiative has supported numerous projects advancing large-aperture optical telescopes, gas optical sensing, underwater optical detection, and more, significantly strengthening China’s capability to address national priorities, including environmental governance, advanced defense systems, and scientific innovation. The multidisciplinary nature of this research underscores its potential as a cornerstone of China’s commitment to technological independence and global leadership. The integration of cutting-edge optical systems with air-space-ground-sea frameworks has revolutionized monitoring capabilities. These systems not only enhance detection precision for environmental and atmospheric phenomena but also adapt to the increasing complexity of real-world applications. Their alignment with China’s broader goals of technological modernization and sustainability ensures its position at the forefront of scientific and technological progress.

Research funded by NSFC from 2019 to 2023 in the fields of space, atmospheric, ocean, and environmental optics has delivered transformative advancements. In space optics, significant progress has been made in large-aperture optical telescopes, enabling high-resolution imaging and three-dimensional detection. Applications include earth observation, astrophysical research, and space exploration. Innovations such as lightweight modular designs and on-orbit assembly techniques have overcome challenges with space deployment. In addition, laser communication and networking systems have demonstrated their ability to establish high-capacity, interference-resistant information networks, laying the foundation for robust space communication architectures. Atmospheric optics research has advanced understanding of light interactions with aerosols, gases, and turbulent atmospheric phenomena. Mid-infrared gas sensors and terahertz spectroscopy have enabled the precise detection of atmospheric components, vital for environmental monitoring, adaptive optics in astronomy, and national defense. Ocean optics has also seen progress with the development of underwater optical communication systems and hyperspectral imaging, which improves ecological monitoring, marine carbon cycle analysis, and underwater detection precision. In environmental optics, innovative technologies like laser radar, optical spectroscopy, and hyperspectral imaging have enhanced pollutant monitoring and environmental change detection. By integrating these technologies with artificial intelligence and big data analytics, researchers have improved efficiency and expanded application scopes.

Space, atmospheric, ocean, and environmental optics are indispensable in tackling global challenges such as climate change and sustainable development. These fields advance scientific understanding while offering practical solutions for environmental protection, disaster response, and national security. Future research should prioritize three key directions. First, continuous innovation in optical technologies is essential, focusing on artificial intelligence, adaptive optics, and integrated chip-based systems to improve performance, scalability, and cost efficiency. These advancements will drive the next generation of high-precision optical instruments. Second, developing highly integrated air-space-ground-sea monitoring systems will be crucial. Such systems should provide real-time, high-resolution data to address challenges like climate change and disaster response and achieve goals like carbon neutrality. Finally, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration with fields like advanced materials science, quantum computing, and machine learning will unlock novel applications and solutions. By pursuing these strategies, China is well-positioned to maintain its leadership in optical science and technology. Investments in these areas will not only address pressing national and global challenges but also significantly contribute to scientific advancement and sustainability. The continued evolution of these fields will ensure their central role in shaping the future of technology and human progress.