China's 32nd Antarctic expedition team started its most expansive marine environmental assessment in waters around the Antarctic Peninsula on Tuesday.
It has been planned that the assessment will cover 59 sites in about ten days.
The team will collect hydrographic, meteorological and other information to help understand the marine environment, climate features and their changing patterns, according to Jiao Yutian, head of the expedition team.
China launched its 32nd Antarctic expedition with the research vessel and icebreaker Xuelong (Snow Dragon) on Nov. 7. A team of 277 members between the ages of 22 and 61 from more than 80 domestic institutions will make the 159-day trip of 30,000 nautical miles.
