China's 41st Antarctic expedition reached new heights as it became the world's first multinational joint mission focused on Antarctic autumn ecosystems. The icebreaker Xuelong-2 embarked on an epic 208-day, 40,000-nautical-mile journey, returning to Haikou City in south China's Hainan Province on May 28.
During the adventure, 91 experts and students from China, Australia, South Korea, the United States, Malaysia, Norway, Thailand, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom joined forces—even braving -20°C temperatures—for a 20-day field survey from March 27 to April 15. They explored 24 sampling stations along four transects, collecting over 5,000 samples 🚢❄️.
This groundbreaking mission marks the first systematic study of key Antarctic trophic levels. Researchers examined everything from zooplankton and Antarctic krill to mesopelagic fish, seabirds, and marine mammals, unveiling how polar organisms adapt during the autumn freeze-up and revealing secrets about carbon transport into the deep ocean.
Such international collaboration in cutting-edge polar research not only fuels scientific breakthroughs but also inspires us to look closer at our planet's most mysterious ecosystems. Stay tuned for more inspiring global discoveries that pave the way for a future of innovation and environmental insight 🌍!
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A world 1st: Xuelong-2 wraps up Antarctic autumn ecosystem mission
cgtn.com
