China’s research icebreaker Xuelong, also known as Snow Dragon, arrived at its first station in the Amundsen Sea on January 24 during the 42nd Antarctic expedition. Over an 18-day stay, the vessel will operate at more than 20 stations, conducting deep-sea research and oceanographic studies.
The team deployed a CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth) instrument to collect seawater samples from various depths, measuring salinity, temperature, and pH. Researchers are studying greenhouse gas concentrations, microplankton species, and ocean acidification, with each sample processed immediately in onboard laboratories.
Additional operations include biological vertical trawls, krill trawling, midwater fish trawls, and gravity core deployments. The first station, at a depth of over 4,000 meters, is the deepest among all planned stations, demonstrating China’s continued commitment to polar research and marine ecosystem studies.
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