Zhu Wei from the meteorological bureau of Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone -- also known as the WHDZ -- took off on China's 36th Antarctic expedition which runs from Oct 22, 2019 to April 30, 2020.
According to local media reports Zhu set sail from Shanghai on China's first research icebreaker the Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, on Oct 22, along with Zhu Kongju from the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences.
Xuelong is scheduled to join Xuelong 2, which is China’s first domestically built research icebreaker, at the Zhongshan research station for joint survey operations.
Zhu Wei and Zhu Kongju will carry out 12-month meteorological observations and atmospheric composition observation missions at Zhongshan research station.
In addition to routine observations and instrument maintenance, the team members will also add LGR-carbon monoxide/nitrous oxide monitors and solar photometers at the research station to further improve its observation capabilities.
At the same time, the team members will develop and debug software, to realize the automatic collection of meteorological data from the station and the real-time display of data.
The two icebreakers will then part company and perform tasks independently.
Zhu Wei (third from left in the back row) poses for a group photo with team members in front of the Xuelong. [Photo/WeChat account of Chedu Yinqing]
