Chinese scientists leave for Antarctic expedition

Chinese research vessel Xuelong, or "Snow Dragon," left the southern port city of Guangzhou on Monday for an expedition in Antarctica, the State Oceanic Administration announced.

During the 162-day trip, the team on board the icebreaker is expected to conduct comprehensive research and evaluation of the Antarctic mainland environment as well as its surrounding waters.

The journey is the country's 29th scientific expedition to Antarctica.

A significant part of the mission will also include looking for a location for the country's fourth station in the region and second-phase construction of the Kunlun Station.

"A polar scientific expedition is an important realm where our country seeks to ensure its national interests, and it's also closely related to the global climate, eco-environment, the future development of human society and other major topics," said Liu Cigui, head of the administration, at the launch ceremony.

The team will conduct 41 scientific projects and 12 logistical tasks in China's Zhongshan and Kunlun stations in the Antarctic.

A comprehensive integrated survey on the South and North poles' environment was put into operation in 2012.

As part of the South Pole survey, 41 researchers will conduct six projects on the Antarctic Ocean, which will include ocean physics, ocean chemistry, marine organism and Antarctic krill resources.

"It shows China's Antarctic expedition has gradually expanded from inland and coastal investigations to the Antarctic Ocean," said Qu Tanzhou, the team leader of the expedition.

To date, China's maritime data of the Antarctic ocean region is low in space-time density, low in accuracy and has poor repeated measurements. Current data is limited in the Antarctic seas at Prydz Bay, he added.

The other major task of the expedition is the site selection survey of the new station in the Antarctic.

"We will consider layout distribution and resource sharing with other foreign stations, especially on cooperation with logistical support and emergency rescue," Qu added.

Xuelong is expected to cover 27,000 nautical miles before returning to Shanghai in April, 2013.

China launched its first expedition to the Antarctic in 1984 and has established three stations there, including Changcheng, Zhongshan and Kunlun.