Xuelong 2 Completes Ocean Survey Mission

Xinhua News Agency "Xuelong 2" March 1 (Reporter Huang Taoming) Beijing time on March 1, with the last krill trawling operation ended, the 41st Antarctic research mission of China's "Xuelong 2" Ocean Team completed this voyage of oceanic investigation tasks. The "Xuelong 2" Ocean Team completed the oceanic survey mission of this voyage.

"Xuelong 2" ocean team leader Luo Guangfu introduction, oceanic survey mainly focused on the Amundsen Sea. This survey covers interglacial lakes, sea mountainous areas and open ocean and other sea areas, obtained from the surface of the Antarctic ocean to 4 kilometers deep biological, sediment, seawater samples, successfully recovered China's first set of polar deep-water ecological submarine markers in the Amundsen Sea mountainous areas to obtain a section of more than 8 meters of the seabed sediment cores, capture a large number of Antarctic krill, side-striped Antarctic fish, Antarctic deep-sea salmon, sea cucumbers, and other biological samples.

"We successfully completed marine ecosystem surveys at more than 30 stations. The acquired samples will be brought back home to reveal the trend of Antarctic marine ecosystem changes under the influence of global climate change through further analysis, providing detailed data support for better understanding of the poles, protecting the poles and utilizing the poles." Luo Guangfu said.

Next, the "Xuelong 2" will go to the port of Littleton, New Zealand, which is the second port call of the "Xuelong 2" on this voyage. During the port call, the Xuelong 2 will carry out personnel rotation and material replenishment, and will also hold an open day for the public.

China's 41st Antarctic expedition is organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources, relying on the Xuelong, Xuelong 2 and various research stations to carry out a series of comprehensive surveys and scientific research.