Beijing, February 20: China’s renowned polar research vessel, ‘Xuelong’ (Snow Dragon), successfully completed its 42nd mission by retrieving an acoustic device in the Ross Sea of Antarctica on Thursday.
During the expedition, the scientific team aboard ‘Xuelong’ conducted multidisciplinary research in the Amundsen Sea, Ross Sea, and surrounding areas. They focused on studying ocean hydrology, marine biology, marine chemistry, and the atmospheric environment, while also surveying penguin habitats.
From January 24 to February 19, the team faced heavy snowfall, fog, high waves, and severe ice conditions to conduct surveys in targeted areas. Expedition leader Chang Haifeng stated that the team concentrated on studying key elements of the marine ecosystem. They successfully recovered and deployed underwater mooring systems, utilized new krill nets, and installed instruments to measure sea temperature and salinity.
During this journey, the ‘Xuelong’ team successfully retrieved four ecological mooring systems and deployed four new ones. They also collected significant biological samples of krill, mid-water fish, and benthic organisms. These samples will assist scientists in understanding changes in the food chain and populations of key species in these regions.
Several new technologies were successfully tested during the mission. The deployed polar ecological mooring systems were equipped with indigenous acoustic and optical sensors capable of long-term monitoring of the sea beneath the ice. Scientists also tested a self-developed multi-layer krill net, which will enhance understanding of krill distribution at various depths.
Now, members of the ‘Xuelong’ scientific team and the summer expedition team stationed at the Chinling Station will head to Hobart Port in Australia, from where they will return home by air. Meanwhile, ‘Xuelong’ will proceed towards the Zhongshan Station in Antarctica to carry out the next phase of its mission.
This 42nd Antarctic expedition was organized under the leadership of China’s Ministry of Natural Resources. It plays a crucial role in long-term monitoring and research on climate change and ecosystems in Antarctica.
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