新华社北京11月1日电 题：向南！向难！中国第42次南极考察续写新传奇 新华社记者董瑞丰、顾天成 万里波涛，一路向南。随着"雪龙"号鸣笛声响起，中国第42次南极考察队11月1日如期启程，再赴那片 挑战人类极限的冰雪大陆。 同暴风严寒为伍，与孤独未知作伴，极地科考如同上九天、下深海。中国一次次向"难"而行，步履从未 停歇。 从无到有、由弱到强，南极科考记录中国速度。 极地科考，是国家综合实力的象征，也是民族进取精神的折射。相比西方国家近两个世纪来对南极的探 索，中国走进这片冰原可谓晚矣，直到1985年才克服重重困难，成为在南极建立考察站的第17个国家。 40载只争朝夕。从肩挑手提赶工建造简易集装箱式房舍，到建成模块化、绿色化现代科考站；从没有一 张完整南极地图，到迈向极地强国，中国以跨越式发展，在南极舞台上迅速站稳脚跟。 以山河为名、以实干为基，南极科考印刻中国自信。 长城、中山、昆仑、泰山、秦岭，在地球最南端的旷野中，念出一个个承载中华民族厚重记忆的名字， 何等豪迈！ 白色冰原，茫无涯际；红色国旗，高高飘扬。中国的南极事业凝聚着不断攀登科学高峰的志气。一代代 科考人以坚韧和勇气将一个个南极科考站稳固建构于南极 ...

Core Viewpoint - The Chinese 41st Antarctic Expedition Team has successfully conducted its first autumn-winter voyage in the Ross Sea, focusing on ice research and yielding preliminary findings in marine biology and chemistry [1][7][17]. Group 1: Expedition Overview - The "Snow Dragon 2" icebreaker returned to China after completing its mission in the Ross Sea, where the team explored various forms of sea ice and their significance [1][2]. - The expedition provided a rare opportunity to observe the entire formation process of sea ice, which is typically difficult to encounter in previous Antarctic studies [4][6]. Group 2: Scientific Discoveries - The team conducted research across 24 selected stations, exceeding the initial plan of 18, covering shallow areas, ice-interstitial lakes, and rich krill resource zones [8][15]. - Significant findings include a decrease in the biomass of certain marine species, particularly the absence of brown algae and a decline in diatom populations, indicating potential ecological shifts [10][12]. - The discovery of a large number of zooplankton in deep water layers suggests changes in their distribution due to deep convection processes [12][13]. Group 3: Implications and Contributions - The expedition not only advanced scientific knowledge but also improved operational processes for Antarctic autumn oceanic work, enhancing the capabilities of the research team [15][17]. - The results contribute to a better understanding of the Antarctic ecosystem and fill gaps in field observations and experiments, aiding in the global understanding of climate change impacts [17].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the first autumn-winter joint scientific expedition in the Ross Sea, Antarctica, focusing on the deployment of various types of buoys to study the interactions between sea ice, ocean currents, and waves. Group 1: Scientific Objectives - The buoys deployed are designed to measure the acceleration and movement of ice, as well as the relationship between ice and waves, with the aim of studying the atmospheric and oceanic processes affecting ice formation throughout the winter [3][5]. - The new type of lotus leaf ice buoy is being deployed for the first time, intended to collect data on the different stages of ice development throughout the season, particularly during the ice growth season [10]. Group 2: Types of Buoys Deployed - Five types of buoys are being deployed, including surface drift buoys, ice-drifting buoys, and wave-ice buoys, which will monitor surface water flow rates, ice movement, and interactions with waves [12][14]. - The lotus leaf ice buoy will provide positional information and will be tracked via satellite to understand the dynamics of ice development [10]. Group 3: Environmental Impact - Sea ice plays a crucial role in the Earth's energy balance by reflecting solar radiation back into space, which helps mitigate warming in polar regions [14]. - Sea ice acts as a natural barrier between the atmosphere and ocean, regulating heat exchange and influencing ocean circulation and the global climate system [14].