China has wrapped up its first autumn Antarctic expedition - the joint Ross Sea voyage organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources, according to a press briefing held on June 6 in Shanghai.
The mission—China's 41st Antarctic expedition—achieved a historic breakthrough in polar exploration, as scientific expeditions in seasons other than summer in the Antarctic region had always been deemed an "impossible mission" due to the combined challenges of extreme cold and hazardous sea conditions.
Scientists have uncovered new insights into the mysterious winter ecosystem of Antarctica's marginal seas. Despite harsh seasonal conditions, thriving populations of krill, fish, and other organisms could provide a clue to their complex survival strategies—challenging previous assumptions about polar biodiversity. Recent research has made significant progress in mapping their distribution patterns and adaptive behaviors.
"Through this expenditure, we have found that despite extremely low primary productivity in the region, we observed unexpectedly high krill distribution densities," said Feng Yuanyuan, an expedition team member and associate professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University's School of Oceanography.
For these expedition team members, the conclusion of the autumn Antarctic expenditure carries deeper significance—it has empowered them with bolder scientific imagination for the future of Antarctic research.
"This breakthrough has set an excellent precedent for China to conduct future international expeditions during Antarctic autumns—and even under more extreme conditions, such as winter voyages," said He Jianfeng, chief scientist of Antarctic expenditure team and researcher of China Polar Research Center.
Upon the return of the icebreaker Xuelong 2 to Shanghai later this month, scientists will conduct further studies on the collected samples through simulated cultivation and multidisciplinary analyses, aiming to bring more high-quality research outcomes.
China wraps up first autumn Antarctic expedition
China wraps up first autumn Antarctic expedition
