China's Snow Dragon Explores Amundsen Sea's Climate Secrets

The Chinese polar research icebreaker Xuelong, also known as the Snow Dragon, concluded its scheduled oceanographic surveys in the Amundsen Sea and Ross Sea on Thursday. These operations were integral to China's 42nd Antarctic expedition, focusing on critical climate change research in a region significantly affected by melting ice sheets.

The expedition team conducted extensive scientific surveys, investigating the hydrological environment, marine biology, and atmospheric conditions. Despite facing challenging weather and ice conditions, researchers successfully deployed and recovered scientific equipment, including a new polar ecological mooring system with domestically produced components. This system allows for long-term, continuous observation of the ocean beneath the ice.

Among the newly deployed technologies was an improved krill trawl, which enhanced the team's ability to assess krill distribution across different water layers. Researchers collected valuable specimens like Antarctic krill and deep-sea organisms, offering insights into the marine ecosystem's trophic structure and population trends.

The Xuelong team, comprising 31 members from various Chinese research institutes and universities, will next travel to Hobart Port, Australia, before returning to China. The vessel will then proceed to China's Zhongshan Station for further tasks, underscoring China's ongoing commitment to Antarctic scientific research and climate change monitoring.