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China's Arctic expedition team returns to Shanghai

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-22 19:35

SHANGHAI -- The icebreaker Xuelong, the carrier for China's third scientific Arctic expedition, arrived at the Shanghai Port on Monday afternoon, ending its 75-day journey.

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The 167-meter Xuelong, or "Snow Dragon," with 122 scientists and staff on board, arrived at 2 p.m. It will sail to the China Polar Research Center in the Pudong District's Jinqiao area at 10 a.m. on Wednesday after a short break in the port, according to the center.

During the expedition that left Shanghai on July 11, the team collected much data and many samples and achieved preliminary results, such as the discovery of salinity reduction in some Arctic sea areas, circulation anomalies and atmospheric circulation fluctuations.

The team also did research at 87 degrees north latitude, the furthest north in the Arctic that the research team ever visited, after the team's helicopter landed on a large piece of a floating ice on August 30.

China made its first and second Arctic expeditions in 1999 and 2003 respectively.