第42次南极考察｜“雪龙”号大洋队开始大洋考察作业

Core Insights - The "Snow Dragon" vessel has commenced its 42nd Antarctic expedition, focusing on oceanic research in the Amundsen Sea and surrounding areas, marking the start of its oceanographic survey operations [1][2] - The expedition aims to investigate key elements of the marine ecosystem, track changes in critical species populations, and enhance China's research capabilities in marine ecosystems and climate change [1][2] Group 1: Expedition Overview - The "Snow Dragon" team consists of 31 members from 12 domestic research institutions and universities [1] - The oceanographic survey will take place from mid-January to mid-February 2026, concentrating on the southwestern Antarctic region [1] - The team will conduct hydrological, meteorological, biological, and chemical observations to gather data on the Southern Ocean's ecological status [1] Group 2: Research Significance - The southwestern Antarctic region is significantly affected by global climate change, with notable ice cap and ice shelf melting in the Amundsen Sea [2] - Since 2018, China has conducted multidisciplinary surveys in the Amundsen Sea for eight consecutive years, which is crucial for understanding rapid marine changes [2] - The findings from this expedition will provide valuable data for assessing the impact of global climate change on marine ecosystems [2] Group 3: Technological Advancements - The expedition will deploy new ecological buoy arrays, utilize advanced krill trawls, and test domestically developed unmanned detection equipment [2] - The application of advanced technology will enhance China's comprehensive marine investigations in Antarctica [2]