China's epic 41st Antarctic expedition team just set sail this Friday, kicking off a nearly seven-month adventure to the icy south! 🛳️❄️
Over the coming months, these brave researchers will be building up the support infrastructure for the new Qinling Station in Antarctica. They'll be investigating how climate change is shaking up the Antarctic ecosystem and teaming up with international friends for research and logistics. 🌏🤝
The mission is powered by three mighty ships: the research icebreakers Xuelong and Xuelong 2 (that's \"Snow Dragon\" and \"Snow Dragon 2\" in English 🐉), and the cargo vessel Yong Sheng.
The Xuelong 2, designed for an economic speed of 15 knots, is expected to reach Antarctica by November 26. 🚢✨
According to Long Wei, deputy head of the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration, the research teams aboard the two icebreakers will dive deep into studies and monitoring of the biological ecology, water environment, sediments, atmosphere, and how pollutants are spreading. 🧐🔬
\"Using China's Antarctic stations—Kunlun, Taishan, Zhongshan, and Changcheng (which means Great Wall 🏯)—our scientists will carry out comprehensive surveys of the ecosystems, nearshore marine environments, soils, geology, atmosphere, snow and ice, and even space! This research will give us a deeper understanding of Antarctica's role in global climate change,\" Long Wei shared.
The mission will cover vast areas including Prydz Bay in East Antarctica, the Astronaut Sea, the Ross Sea in West Antarctica, the Amundsen Sea, and the surrounding waters of the Antarctic Peninsula. 🌊🌐
Stay tuned for more updates from this incredible journey to the bottom of the world! 🌏❄️
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
