xi's moments
Home | Innovation

Icebreaker leaves for new Antarctic expedition

By ZHAO LEI | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2021-11-05 14:49

The Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, research icebreaker departs from Shanghai for China's 38th Antarctic expedition, Nov 5, 2021. [Photo/Ministry of Natural Resources]

China's latest scientific expedition to Antarctica started on Friday as mission members set sail from their home base in Shanghai.

The 38th Antarctic expedition is expected to last about five and a half months. The first group of the mission crew – comprising 154 researchers and support staff members – left for the southernmost continent on board the Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, research icebreaker on Friday morning, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The ministry said in a brief statement that the mission is tasked with surveying atmospheric compositions, hydrology, weather and biological cycles to help with research on the global climate change. It will also monitor pollutants in the Southern Ocean.

The country's 37th Antarctic expedition lasted 179 days and concluded in early May. It was carried out by the Xuelong 2, the nation's first domestically built research icebreaker.

China has four research stations in the Antarctica -- Changcheng, Zhongshan, Taishan and Kunlun. It is now building a fifth station there which it intends to put into service around 2022.

Global Edition
BACK TO THE TOP
Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

Registration Number: 130349