China conducts first autumn expedition of the Antarctic

(ECNS) -- China's 41st Antarctic expedition, the Xuelong 2 set sail from Lyttelton Harbor in Christchurch, New Zealand after personnel rotations and resupplies for its first Autumn voyage. 

Chinese and international scientists aboard the icebreaker Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2, will carry out a scientific expedition on Antarctica's Ross Sea, marking China's first-ever oceanic research mission in Autumn.

The expedition will focus on scientific issues including ecosystem processes and carbon sequestration in the Southern Ocean during Autumn. The team aims to investigate how Antarctic organisms, including krill, survive in extreme environments with no sunlight, limited food, and extensive sea ice coverage, filling a critical gap in international research.

He Jianfeng, deputy leader and chief scientist of the 41st Antarctic Expedition, said that as Antarctica enters Autumn, temperatures are gradually decreasing. The first challenge to be faced is crossing the westerlies. Additionally, the extreme cold will pose a severe test for both the expedition team and their scientific equipment.

The expedition team consists of 44 members from nine countries, which include participants from China, the United States, South Korea, and Malaysia. They will conduct a month-long scientific survey of the dark marine ecosystem in the Ross Sea. This is the most internationally participated voyage since China began scientific expeditions in the Southern Ocean.(By Li Yan)