China's 42nd Antarctic Expedition Sets Sail, Embarking on New Phase of Polar Research

11月1日，由中國自然資源部組織的中國第42次南極考察隊正式出征，奔赴南極執行科學考察任務。本次考察陣容龐大，匯聚了來自內地80餘家單位的500餘名隊員，並邀請了來自泰國、智利、葡萄牙及中國香港、中國澳門等10多個國家和地區的科研人員共同參與，體現了國際科研合作的精神。

China's 42nd Antarctic expedition, organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources, departed on November 1, heading to the Antarctic continent to carry out scientific research missions. The large-scale expedition involves over 500 team members from more than 80 institutions across the Chinese mainland. It also features collaborative participation from researchers representing over 10 countries and regions, including Thailand, Chile, Portugal, as well as China's Hong Kong and Macao, underscoring a spirit of international scientific cooperation.

圖源：中國自然資源部

此次南極考察任務將由「雪龍」號和「雪龍2」號兩艘極地科考船共同保障執行，考察周期預計持續至2026年5月，隨後返回內地。本次考察重點圍繞三大核心工作展開：一是推進南極秦嶺站的配套設施建設與系統優化工作；二是持續開展對南極多領域的綜合調查與觀測；三是實施重大研發項目並推動國產裝備與技術在南極環境下的新應用。

The research mission will be supported by both the icebreakers Xuelong and Xuelong 2. The expedition is scheduled for completion in May 2026, after which the teams will return to the mainland. The focus of this expedition centers on three key tasks: advancing the construction and optimization of supporting facilities for the Qinling Station; continuing comprehensive multi-disciplinary surveys and observations in Antarctica; and conducting major research projects alongside new applications of domestically developed equipment and technology.

尤為引人注目的是，此次考察中，中國將首次嘗試在南極內陸冰層深處進行湖泊科學鑽探試驗。科研團隊計劃利用國產熱水鑽和熱融鑽系統，在厚度超過3000米的冰蓋上實施潔淨鑽探與取樣作業，旨在探索那片長期與世隔絕的冰下湖環境及其獨特的地質特徵。這標誌著中國南極科學探索邁向新的深度。

A particularly noteworthy endeavor is China's first attempt to conduct scientific drilling experiments targeting subglacial lakes deep beneath the Antarctic ice sheet. Utilizing domestically developed hot-water drilling and thermal melt drilling systems, researchers plan to perform clean drilling and sampling operations through ice layers exceeding 3,000 meters in thickness. This ambitious project aims to explore the isolated environment and unique geological characteristics of these subglacial lakes, marking a significant step forward in the depth and scope of China's Antarctic exploration.

來源：本文部分轉載香港中通社与中國自然資源部，轉載的目的在於傳遞更多的知識，如有侵權行為，請聯絡我們，我們會立即刪除。