Wuhan team documents polar heat-up

"The polar regions are experiencing some of the fastest warming on Earth," she said, citing the accelerating rise in temperature and sea ice retreat in Antarctica.

The five-person team from Wuhan University split up across China's expanding network of polar infrastructure to deploy specialized monitoring hardware. At the Great Wall Station, postdoctoral fellow Liu Mingliang maintained a co-located Global Navigation Satellite System and tide gauge station, which integrates satellite positioning with real-time sea-level monitoring.

At Zhongshan Station, research assistant Hu Changhong deployed advanced tide gauges to collect critical ocean tide data.

At China's newest Antarctic base, Qinling Station, research assistant Yu Liang conducted observations of wind, wave and current fields to establish a permanent, stable marine observation system.

The researchers said that Antarctic expeditions are far more demanding than commonly imagined.

Fieldwork often takes place in areas without accessible roads, requiring hours of trekking across moss-covered wetlands, with the constant risk of getting stuck in mud.

Liu recalled a close encounter with a whale that approached within a meter of their rubber boat while returning from a nearby South Korean station. "It was a truly frightening moment," Liu said.

Despite the harsh environment, the researchers described life in Antarctica as unexpectedly warm and vibrant. During the expedition, they participated in a flag-raising ceremony to mark the 41st anniversary of Great Wall Station, inviting scientists from Russian, South Korean and Uruguayan stations. The celebration was followed by academic exchanges and even a film festival.

According to the Chinese Antarctic Center of Surveying and Mapping, the center has sent some 200 researchers on polar expeditions, making it one of China's earliest and most active institutions in the field, with participation in every national Antarctic and Arctic mission.

The latest research outcomes are expected to be integrated into Wuhan University's talent development system, which combines undergraduate, master's and doctoral training, allowing students to approach the polar regions through the lenses of natural sciences, humanities and international governance.

Contact the writers at huqing@chinadaily.com.cn