BEIJING, Dec 2: China has inaugurated its first overseas atmospheric monitoring station in Antarctica, marking a significant step in its efforts to establish a stronger foothold on the resource-rich and frigid continent by building additional research facilities.
The Zhongshan National Atmospheric Background Station, located in the Larsemann Hills of East Antarctica, commenced operations on Sunday, as reported by the China Meteorological Administration (CMA).
This new station will carry out “continuous and long-term operational observations of changes in the concentrations of atmospheric components in Antarctica” and aims to provide an accurate depiction of the region’s atmospheric composition and its associated characteristics, according to an article published on the CMA website on Monday.
The data gathered will “contribute to the global response to climate change,” the article added, as noted by the South China Morning Post based in Hong Kong.
This station is China’s ninth atmospheric monitoring station overall and its first located outside the country. Additionally, ten new monitoring stations are currently undergoing testing within China.
Ding Minghu, director of the Institute of Global Change and Polar Meteorology at the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, stated that polar regions act as “amplifiers” of global climate change.
He emphasized that the observations from the new station would yield “unique geographical advantages and scientific insights,” particularly in studying the effects of human activities on the environment.
Earlier this year, China also activated its fifth research station in Antarctica, which covers an area of 5,244 square meters and can accommodate 80 expedition members during the summer and 30 during the winter, as per official reports.
In a bid to explore polar resources more extensively, China has been advancing its efforts with five scientific research stations in Antarctica and two in the Arctic, similar to its competitor, the United States.
Earlier this year, Chinese researchers announced plans to establish a surveillance network to monitor Antarctic marine life, a project expected to aid in the future protection of the continent’s marine ecology.
Currently, there are 70 permanent research stations distributed across Antarctica, operated by 29 countries from all continents, according to reports.
India operates two active research stations in Antarctica – Maitri and Bharti. The first station, Dakshin Gangotri, established in 1983, had to be abandoned after sinking into the snow.
The United States has six research stations, while Australia maintains three.
China signed the Antarctic Treaty in 1983, which designates the continent as a natural reserve, prohibiting commercial resource extraction. (PTI)
