China’s Xuelong-2 launches Antarctic research mission, with the aim to gather key data to protect the polar environment and promote global scientific collaboration.
The Chinese research icebreaker Xuelong-2 (Snow Dragon-2) arrived at its designated operation site in the Amundsen Sea on Saturday as part of China’s 41st Antarctic expedition. The vessel has embarked on a month-long mission focused on oceanic research.
According to Luo Guangfu, captain of the oceanic team for this expedition, the primary survey area lies south of 68 degrees latitude. The mission’s objectives include studying Antarctic marine hydrology, meteorology, chemistry, biology, and geology.
The research team will collect samples of polar seawater, sediment, gas, and biological materials, which will be pre-processed and analyzed in the ship’s onboard laboratory. Their aim is to monitor annual changes in polar marine ecological parameters, providing essential data for better understanding and protecting the polar environment.
Organized by China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, the expedition aims to investigate the effects of climate change on Antarctic ecosystems and foster international scientific collaboration. Earlier in January, Xuelong-2 stopped at Lyttelton Port in New Zealand for resupply and crew rotation.
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