Chinese expedition team kicks off research at Arctic Yellow River Station

Photo taken on July 25, 2023 shows the China Arctic Yellow River Station in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway. The latest batch of the Chinese Arctic expedition team arrived at the China Arctic Yellow River Station in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean on Monday. (Chinese Arctic Expedition Team/Handout via Xinhua)

OSLO, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The latest batch of the Chinese Arctic expedition team arrived at the China Arctic Yellow River Station in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean on Monday.

This marks the first return to a normal schedule for the station's summer expedition since 2020.

The station's director, He Fang, told Xinhua that a total of 41 team members will gradually settle in this year, and they will embark on a series of research activities over the next seven months.

He said throughout their stay, the team will conduct on-site investigations for nine scientific research projects, covering four major research directions, including terrestrial ecology, marine ecology, space physics, and glacier change monitoring in the Arctic region.

The expedition team will also collaborate with their Norwegian counterparts in a joint investigation and research on Arctic environmental pollutants.

Established in July 2004, the Yellow River Station is China's first Arctic research station.

It is situated in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard at 79 degrees north latitude. China is the eighth country to set up an Arctic research station on the archipelago.

In recent years, China has proactively engaged experts from diverse fields in Arctic research, amassing substantial experience. Starting from 1999, China has successfully conducted 12 Arctic scientific expeditions using research vessels "Xuelong" (Snow Dragon) and "Xuelong 2" as platforms.

China has gradually established a multidisciplinary observation system encompassing marine, ice and snow, atmospheric, biological, and geological sciences in the Arctic region.

Members of the Chinese Arctic expedition team pose for a photograph at the China Arctic Yellow River Station in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway, on July 24, 2023. The latest batch of the Chinese Arctic expedition team arrived at the China Arctic Yellow River Station in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean on Monday. (Chinese Arctic Expedition Team/Handout via Xinhua)

A member of the Chinese Arctic expedition team works at the China Arctic Yellow River Station in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway, on July 25, 2023. The latest batch of the Chinese Arctic expedition team arrived at the China Arctic Yellow River Station in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean on Monday. (Chinese Arctic Expedition Team/Handout via Xinhua)