Hey, climate warriors and ocean nerds! 🌊❄️ China's research icebreaker Xuelong (aka Snow Dragon) has just kicked off its 42nd Antarctic expedition, heading straight to the Amundsen Sea.
On Jan 16, battling four-meter swells and strong westerly winds, the team deployed their first XBT (expendable temperature-depth profiler). This nifty tool sends a probe into the water to measure temperature and depth1 think of it as the ocean's fitness tracker! 📈🔥
From mid-Jan to mid-Feb, 31 scientists from 12 Chinese universities and research institutes will:
- Gather physical & biological data from the upper ocean layers 🐠
- Analyze nutrient levels and map seabed shapes 📊
- Monitor key species distribution (yes, krill hunting time! 🦐)
- Test new tech: eco-moorings, advanced krill trawlers & unmanned observation gear 🤖
Why the Amundsen Sea? It is one of the most climate-sensitive spots in Antarctica, where melting ice has big implications for global sea levels and ecosystems. 🌍💔
Chief scientist Wei Fuhai highlights that eight years of continuous surveys (since 2018!) help capture rapid ocean shifts and feed crucial data into climate models. This info is gold for understanding how our planet is changing and how we can act. 🌱🔬
Follow along for updates on how this icy adventure unfolds and what it means for our shared, warming world. After all, saving the planet starts with knowing it! 💙🌏
Reference(s):
China's icebreaker Xuelong launches Antarctic survey in Amundsen Sea
cgtn.com
