China's 17th Exploration Team Sets Out for South PoleAs reported, scientists engaged in the exploration will dedicate themselves to multidisciplinary researches for testing the GPS, the affects by human activities upon seabird's ecology in King George V Island and some conventional observations for meteorological research at the Great Wall Station. Meanwhile, at the Zhongshan Station, scientists are to go in for observations for meteorological phenomena in general, ozone and Sino-Japan cooperative observation of upper atmospheric physics as well as an internationally serial GPS test and monitoring of the sea levels. 22 out of the 37 team-members are to leave for the Great Wall Station by air on the morning of December 7. The rest for the Zhongshan Station are to set out January 6, 2001. They'll be shipped to the destination by vessel Ice Bird of Australia for Vessel "Xuelong" needs to be repaired and regular maintenance. The trans-centenary expedition is of special significance and what's more is that there are two women scientists in the expedition team. They are going to spend the winter study at the pole, challenging all sorts of difficulties together with their man fellows for a year round so as to draw some experience for a mixed exploration team in the future, said Wang Shuguang, director of the State Oceanography Bureau. In addition, another six persons specialized in human culture also joined the team for the first time to the Great Wall Station. They are going to jot down their experience as how to work, study and live there at the Antarctica. By PD Online staff Ying Zhili |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |
