China’s latest Antarctic expedition has come to an end, marking the return of the modern icebreaker Xuelong 2 to port in Qingdao, Shandong Province. The expedition, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, paved the way for active atmospheric research in the cold Antarctic region.

The highlight of this voyage was the rigorous atmospheric research conducted by the team. These efforts included the establishment and maintenance of a meteorological observation station, as well as extensive atmospheric-chemical observations and sample collection at the famous Zhongshan station. This is reported by CCTV+, a partner of TV BRICS.

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences are currently conducting a thorough analysis of the valuable samples obtained during the expedition. During this painstaking process, specialised equipment is being used to study the concentration of various gases in the collected atmospheric samples.

The results of this in-depth study will not only shed light on the composition of gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and sulphur hexafluoride, but will also provide valuable data for a comprehensive understanding of Antarctic climate dynamics.

The resulting data will be compared with previous records, revealing new insights and expanding our knowledge of the region’s atmospheric conditions.

Through a combination of real-time online monitoring, in situ sampling for further analysis and laboratory research in Beijing, China is pushing the boundaries of Antarctic atmospheric research.

A state-of-the-art atmospheric background monitoring system has been in place at Zhongshan Station since 2008, and China continues to strive to fill critical gaps in polar atmospheric research.

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