China's scientific ambitions reached new depths as the icebreaker Xuelong 2 returned to Shanghai on Friday, concluding a landmark Arctic expedition that included the nation's first manned submersible dive beneath polar ice. The 15th Arctic Ocean Scientific Expedition – China's largest to date – deployed four research vessels to unravel the Arctic's climate mysteries while demonstrating growing technological prowess.
Breaking New Ground in Polar Research
Over 100 scientists conducted multidisciplinary studies across the Chukchi Plateau, Canada Basin, and central Arctic Ocean. The synchronized efforts of Xuelong-2 and Jidi icebreakers enabled unprecedented data collection through dual-ship operations in high-latitude waters. Advanced monitoring systems tracked sea ice movements and ecological changes in quasi-real time, revealing critical interactions between melting ice and marine ecosystems.
Jiaolong's Historic Descent
The expedition's crowning achievement came when the Jiaolong submersible – supported by mother ship Shenhai-1 – completed China's first crewed dive under Arctic ice. This technological milestone showcases enhanced capabilities in extreme-environment exploration, with scientists gathering rare sub-ice hydrological data that could reshape understanding of polar climate systems.
Climate Science Implications
Researchers employed multi-depth imaging systems to capture benthic ecosystem dynamics, while repeated chlorophyll measurements tracked phytoplankton responses to ice retreat. These findings provide vital insights into how Arctic warming influences global ocean currents and carbon cycles. The mission's atmospheric-ice-ocean interaction models are expected to significantly improve climate forecasting accuracy.
As Arctic shipping routes become increasingly navigable, China's expanded polar research capabilities position it to play a key role in shaping sustainable development strategies for this environmentally sensitive region.
