China News Service, Beijing, November 10 (Reporter Ruan Yulin) The Ministry of Natural Resources of China reported on the 10th that the 37th Antarctic Scientific Expedition Team organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources of China took the "Xuelong 2" polar scientific expedition icebreaker on the 10th. Departing from Shanghai, began to carry out the Antarctic scientific expedition mission.
According to reports, China's 37th Antarctic Scientific Expedition will focus on addressing global climate change and other issues, carry out scientific surveys on hydrometeorology, ecological environment and other scientific investigations, and perform operational monitoring tasks for new pollutants such as microplastics and sea garbage in the Southern Ocean.
At the same time, it will also carry out wintering personnel rotation and material supply at Zhongshan Station and Great Wall Station in Antarctica.
On October 15, 2019, "Xuelong 2" set off from Shenzhen for its maiden voyage to Antarctica. In April of this year, "Xuelong" and "Xuelong 2", which set off for the first time in Antarctica, successfully completed China's 36th Antarctic scientific expedition mission , Return to Shanghai.
This summer, the "Xuelong 2", which undertook China's 11th Arctic scientific expedition, set off for the first time in the Arctic.
"Xuelong 2" is China’s first self-built polar scientific expedition icebreaker, and the world’s first polar scientific icebreaker with two-way icebreaking technology on the bow and stern. It is equipped with internationally advanced marine survey and observation equipment. Carry out physical oceanography, ocean chemistry, biodiversity surveys and other scientific investigations in the polar oceans.
According to the arrangement, the expedition plans to have a voyage of more than 30,000 nautical miles and is expected to return to Shanghai in early May 2021.
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