China's 41st Antarctic expedition team, working aboard the research icebreaker Xuelong 2, has successfully wrapped up its ocean exploration mission in the Amundsen Sea and Ross Sea regions of Antarctica.
The Xuelong 2, also known as Snow Dragon 2, has been engaged in a marine ecosystem survey in the Amundsen Sea for nearly a month, which includes a comprehensive investigation and monitoring of biological ecology, water, sedimentary and atmospheric environment, and pollutant distribution.
The icebreaker is now making its journey back from the Amundsen Sea in the western hemisphere to the Ross Sea in the eastern hemisphere.
Team members are in the process of retrieving the CTD (conductivity, temperature and depth) device, which detects how the conductivity and temperature of the water column vary with depth.
With this operation concluded, China's 41st Antarctic expedition team will have successfully finished its tasks in the Amundsen Sea and the Ross Sea.
"Each of our stations faced challenges but successfully completed the CTD operation. The variations in water conditions at the same depth in the Amundsen Sea and the Ross Sea are significant, which could influence local biogeochemical processes, including changes in fish, krill and plankton," said Du Ling, a member of the oceanic survey team of the 41st Chinese Antarctic Expedition.
During the ocean exploration mission, the team has successfully collected biological samples such as Antarctic silverfish, Antarctic deep-sea smelt, ribbon worms and sea cucumbers.
"The West Antarctic region, where the Amundsen Sea is located, is among the most significant areas of glacier melting in the entire Antarctic. This expedition marks China's eighth venture into the Amundsen Sea. During this mission, we've successfully entered the glacial lake in the Amundsen Sea area, where the biomass is incredibly rich, allowing us to obtain highly valuable data regarding the Amundsen Sea polynya," said Luo Guangfu, captain of the oceanic survey team of the 41st Chinese Antarctic Expedition.
"During this voyage, we've accomplished marine ecosystem surveys at over 30 stations in the Amundsen Sea and the Ross Sea, collecting a diverse array of marine life and water and sediment samples. We will bring these samples back to China and, through further analysis, understand the trend in the Antarctic marine ecosystem under the influence of global climate change," he added.
China's 41st Antarctic expedition team completes ocean exploration mission
China's 41st Antarctic expedition team completes ocean exploration mission
