China's 40th Antarctic scientific expedition begins

Members of China's 40th Antarctic scientific expedition team get aboard research icebreaker Xuelong at a base dock in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

SHANGHAI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's 40th Antarctic scientific expedition team set sail on Wednesday morning, starting a mission expected to last over five months.

This is the first time China's Antarctic scientific research mission will be carried out by three ships.

Research icebreakers Xuelong and Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon and Snow Dragon 2, set off from Shanghai, while cargo vessel Tian Hui departed from Zhangjiagang in east China's Jiangsu Province.

The team, consisting of over 460 people, will investigate the impact of climate change on the Antarctic ecosystem, as well as Antarctica's role in climate change. They will collaborate with Norwegian and Australian counterparts on cutting-edge research projects.

A new scientific research station will be established along the coastal areas of the Ross Sea during this expedition, becoming China's fifth research station in Antarctica and the third permanent ones, after the Changcheng and Zhongshan stations.

The design of the station's building is inspired by the constellation Crux that used to guide Chinese navigator Zheng He in his voyages. With a floor space of 5,244 square meters, it will be able to support 80 expedition team members during summers and 30 members during winters. The station will monitor and study the atmospheric and marine environment of Antarctica as well as the biological and ecological conditions there.

People see off China's 40th Antarctic scientific expedition team at a base dock in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

This photo taken on Nov. 1, 2023 shows a set-off ceremony for China's 40th Antarctic scientific expedition team at a base dock in Shanghai, east China. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

Research icebreaker Xuelong sets off from a base dock in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

Staff members prepare the gangway ladder of research icebreaker Xuelong 2 at a base dock in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

Members of China's 40th Antarctic scientific expedition team prepare to set off from a base dock in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

Research icebreakers Xuelong and Xuelong 2 set off from a base dock in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

This photo taken on Nov. 1, 2023 shows cargo vessel Tian Hui ready to set off from Zhangjiagang, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by He Haiyang/Xinhua)

Cargo vessel Tian Hui sets off from Zhangjiagang, east China's Jiangsu Province, Nov. 1, 2023. (Photo by He Haiyang/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on Nov. 1, 2023 shows cargo vessel Tian Hui setting off from Zhangjiagang, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by Bao Hong/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on Nov. 1, 2023 shows cargo vessel Tian Hui setting off from Zhangjiagang, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by Li Ruiliang/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 1, 2023 shows cargo vessel Tian Hui ready to set off from Zhangjiagang, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by Li Ruiliang/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on Nov. 1, 2023 shows cargo vessel Tian Hui ready to set off from Zhangjiagang, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by Bao Hong/Xinhua)