China's 40th Antarctic research expedition begins

It has been reported that China has begun its 40th Antarctic research expedition with the goal of establishing a new research base.

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China's 40th Antarctic research expedition begins

According to a report by the Global Times, China's icebreaker ships Xuelong (Snow Dragon) and Xuelong-2 set sail from Shanghai for Antarctica today.

The expedition, which involves 460 researchers from 80 institutions in China, plans to establish a new research base on the coast of the Ross Sea in the eastern part of the continent.

The Tianhui ship, which is carrying construction materials for the base planned to be built on an area of 5,244 square meters, also departed from the city of Zhangjiagang in Jiangsu province to join the icebreaker ships.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE BASE WILL BE COMPLETED IN FEBRUARY

The construction of the base, which is planned to be China's fifth research station in Antarctica and its first focused on the Pacific sector, is expected to be completed in February 2024.

The station will be China's third permanent base built on the continent, following the Great Wall Station on the Fildes Peninsula in West Antarctica and the Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) Station near Prydz Bay in the east.

China also has the Kunlun and Taishan stations in the interior of the continent, which are used only during the Southern Hemisphere's summer season.

The research team, which will serve in Antarctica for approximately 5 months, will conduct studies on the effects of climate change on the continent's ecosystem in addition to the construction of the new base.

Researchers will conduct biome, water, sediment, and atmospheric studies in Prydz Bay, the Amundsen Sea, the Ross Sea, West Antarctica, the Cosmonaut Sea, and the waters surrounding the continent.

News Source: AA