Leveraging the UAV to support Chinese Antarctic expeditions:a new perspective

Recent developments in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles(UAVs)and their applications in various subjects are of interest to polar communities.Due to the harsh climate and dangerous environment,these regions pose challenges for the expedition teams.Several countries have tested the UAV technology to support Antarctic research and logistics.In this trend paper,we provide insightful reviews and discussions on such a prospective topic.Based on a comprehensive literature survey,we firstly summarize the key research progress of UAV in Antarctic studies.Then the examples of risk scenarios during the field exploration are given,after which several promising applications of the UAVs in safety guarantee are illustrated.In particular,we present a case of site-selection for the Chinese first ice sheet airfield,using the data collected in the 34th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition(CHINARE).In the end,we highlight the unique value of the UAVs in the popularization of polar science before concluding the advantages and limitations.Considering their excellent performance,we expect more innovations for UAV’s applications in the following Antarctic expeditions.

Experimental Application of Intelligent Robot Technology in Antarctic Scientific Expedition

Intelligent robot technology has great potential for application in polar scientific expedition.During the 24th Chinese Antarctic Expedition in the summer of 2007/08,our ice-snow surface mobile and low-flying robots were successfully employed for the first time in the Antarctic.This paper firstly gives a brief introduction to the intelligent robot technology developed abroad and used in the Antarctic,then focuses on the ice-snow surface mobile and low-flying robots developed by China as well as their field trials in the Antarctic.Moreover,the authors have considered the potential demand for the intelligent robot technology in China＇s Antarctic scientific expedition,in the hope of providing some reference for the future development of robot technologies.

Chemical composition of marine aerosols of the 26th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition

The ionic compositions of aerosol samples collected during the 26th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition were analyzed and the sources of ions were distinguished. Cl-, Na＋, SO2-, NO3-, and Mg2＋ were the most abundant ionic components in the marine aerosols. Cl- and Na＋ contributed over 70% in the total ionic composition, indicating the sea salt is still the primary composition in marine aerosols, followed by the sulfate as the secondary ionic component existed as NH4N03, NH4HSO4, （NH4）2S04. The maximal sea salt concentrations were found at around 40~S and could be attributed to greater winds. The concentrations of methane sulfonic acid （MSA） appeared increasing trend from the low to high latitudes, possibly caused by lower temperature in air and higher marine biological processes in the marginal waters in Antarctica. The correlation and factor analyzes were used to investigate possible sources of these ions. Cl-, Br-, Na＋, K＋, Mg2＋ and Ca2＋ had predominantly marine sources; while F-, NO3 and NH＋ had mostly anthropogenic sources; MSA had marine biogenic sources. The concentrations of SO42- were influenced by both marine and anthropogenic sources.

Chinese radioglaciological studies on the Antarctic ice sheet: progress and prospects

Chinese radioglaciological studies on the Antarctic ice sheet(AIS) began in 2004/05 when the 21 st Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition(CHINARE 21) team arrived at Dome A for the first time and radio echo sounding(RES) was conducted along the inland traverse and in the Dome A region. Subsequently, more field surveys were conducted along the traverse and in the Dome A region using different radar systems targeting different scientific purposes, such as revealing the landscape of the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains by detailed grid RES, or locating a deep ice core drilling site by mapping and studying internal structures, bedrock topography and subglacial conditions in the Dome A region. Furthermore, the evolution of the AIS was inferred from the typical mountain glaciation topography beneath Dome A, and the age of the deep ice core at Kunlun Station was estimated through numerical modeling. Recently, the Snow Eagle 601 airplane was acquired and an airborne geophysical system was constructed to survey the AIS in Princess Elizabeth Land during CHINARE 32(2015/16) and CHINARE 33(2016/17) in order to fill the large data gap there. In this paper, we review both the recent progress of Chinese radioglaciological science in Antarctica and future proposed work.

GPS-derived horizontal ice flow velocities along the traverse route from Zhongshan Station to Dome-A, East Antarctica

The traverse route from Zhongshan Station to Dome A is one of the most important expedition routes of ITASE Project. China carried out 3 inland traverses during the 1996/1997, 1997/1998, 1998/1999 austral summer field seasons. The field team reached inland 300 km, 500 km and 1100 km away from Zhongshan Station respectively. Some ice motion stakes were set up, occupied and reoccupied along the route by GPS technology. It showed that the ice along the traverse route flowed with an 8 25 ma -1 velocity to the northwest, the direction of the bottom of Lambert Glacier Basin. They coincide with the results along the eastern section from LGB59 70 of the LGB route deduced by Australia in both values and directions. Furthermore, the directions of the horizontal flow are perpendicular to the surface topography contour. The much larger velocity at the point of LT980 with an approximate value of 100 ma -1 was probed. It was caused by a 15 km wide trough on the bed beneath this point.

Meteorological observations and weather forecasting services of the CHINARE

By 2018, China had conducted 34 scientific explorations in Antarctica spearheaded by the Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition(CHINARE). Since the first CHINARE over 30 years ago, considerable work has been undertaken to promote the development of techniques for the observation of surface and upper-air meteorological elements, and satellite image and data reception systems at Chinese Antarctic stations and onboard Chinese icebreakers have played critical roles in this endeavor. The upgrade of in situ and remote sensing measurement methods and the improvement of weather forecasting skill have enabled forecasters to achieve reliable on-site weather forecasting for the CHINARE. Nowadays, the routing of icebreakers, navigation of aircraft, and activities at Chinese Antarctic stations all benefit from the accurate weather forecasting service. In this paper, a review of the conventional meteorological measurement and operational weather forecasting services of the CHINARE is presented.

edical Care Experiences of the 30^th Chinese Antarctic Research Expedition： A Retrospective Study

China has begun Antarctic scientific research expeditions since 1984. The 30^th Chinese Antarctic expedition summer team boarded the Xuelong vessel at Shanghai, China on November 7, 2013. This expedition team spent more than three months in Antarctica until the offloading of supplies and scientific activities were completed. Effective medical care plays an important role in ensuring scientific research expedition teams to complete their missions. However, medical care of Antarctic expeditions is complex because the characteristics of medical conditions in Antarctic expeditions are largely unknownYi The present study describes the characteristics of medical conditions encountered in the 30^th Chinese Antarctic summer scientific research expedition. Given this study results, a better and more effective medical care may be provided in future Antarctic scientific research expeditions.