Chinese Scientists to Explore North Pole Third TimeThe Institute of Remote Sensing Application, Chinese Academy of Sciences has decided to organize the third time North Pole scientific study in 2002 after undertaking two large-scale explorations respectively in 1995 and 1999.This time scientists will start from Asia continent, cross the Arctic Ocean, to reach the North Pole in an effort to find a route suitable for China and fill in study blanks on regions and subjects. The study plan covers many fields as remote sensing, cartography, ice and snow, ecology, geology and ocean. Mapped out according to current situation and developing trend of China's exploration on the North Pole, the study plan contains two stages. The first stage, starting from late January 2001, will take three months, in which scientists would complete an exploratory study by walking 1000km from the Severnaya Zemlya islands of Russia to the North Pole. If things go smoothly they would further walk across the Arctic. The second stage will focus on a study of regions of typical landforms along the Arctic Ocean in a two months time. To date, full preparations are being made, all preliminary work has been completed, and plans for logistics and rescue work have been set. Ordered equipment has arrived and team members will soon be selected and trained. Many enterprises have shown the desire to fund the pursuit of North Pole study. By PD Online Staff Member Li Heng |
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