From the day when the five-star red flag was first planted in Antarctica, the endless ocean and surging waves began to witness the fruitful achievements made by China in the field of Antarctic scientific research. At this moment, the members of the expedition team who carried out the 40th Antarctic scientific expedition on the "Snow Dragon 2" are still sailing in the Southern Ocean, and are making various preparations for the ocean scientific research mission after arriving in the Amundsen Sea of Antarctica.
CCTV reporter Chen Bo: It's 5 a.m. local time on December 31, 2023, and it's 0:00 a.m. on New Year's Day 2024 Beijing time. From the Port of Lyttelton in New Zealand, we have been heading south. With each day of sailing, the temperature drops from around 18 degrees Celsius in New Zealand to around 0 degrees Celsius today. It's summer here, so even though I'm in Antarctica, it's not as cold as I thought. In addition, with each day of sailing, the time of sunrise moves forward and the time of sunset recedes, and the daylight hours are getting longer and longer, and now the polar day has arrived.
The captain told us that around January 4, Beijing time, the "Snow Dragon 2" could arrive at the operating sea area.
Xiao Zhimin, captain of the "Snow Dragon 2": We are now at about 167 degrees west longitude, and if we go east, it is about 162 degrees west longitude, and there is a piece of ice floe sticking out, there may be icebergs in it, so we should pay more attention when navigating this area. We pay more attention to the weather information and have to change the course all the time.
In the process of crossing the westerly wind belt, some team members have already started the first task of this ocean expedition - sailing.
Chen Chao, captain of China's 40th Antarctic expedition "Snow Dragon 2" ocean team: It slides down in an instant, and everyone should try not to lean too far out.
Shen Yue, Director of the Xuelong 2 Laboratory of China's 40th Antarctic Expedition: Its probe is inside. It has copper wires inside, and the other end circulates with the seawater and transmits data back.
Reporter: What is the effect of obtaining this data for our investigation?
Shen Yue, Director of the Xuelong 2 Laboratory of China's 40th Antarctic Expedition: In this sea area, the most basic physical parameters of water are all in this sea area.
As the "Snow Dragon 2" travels to higher latitudes, the network signal is getting weaker and weaker, and everyone is also trying to adapt to a life with less and less contact with the outside world, as well as a routine of only day and no night. Although they are far away from home, everyone is looking forward to the new year.
Xiao Jinfeng, pilot of the Xuelong 2: In the new year, I hope that all the tasks of our Antarctic expedition can be successfully completed, and our voyage will be safe and sound, and everything will go smoothly.
Tang Zhu, member of China's 40th Antarctic Expedition: I hope to use our professional skills and professional knowledge to obtain a batch of fruitful results.
Hou Jiling, member of the 40th Chinese Antarctic Expedition: I photographed all kinds of glaciers and penguins, and completed this task well, hoping to pass on the spirit of exploring the Antarctica to children.