An expedition and research team of scientists and journalists will
start the construction of China's first scientific expedition and
research station in the North Pole in Norway's Svalbard archipelago
at the end of September, sources said Friday in Beijing.
Gao Dengyi, the team head and a scientist from the Chinese Academy
of Sciences, said that the upcoming expedition will lead to a
three-year comprehensive scientific research project on the
climate, environment, resources and life forms in the North Pole
area.
The facility, China Yilite-Mornring Arctic Scientific Expedition
and Research Station, will support Chinese scientists in
accommodation, scientific inspection and communication, Gao
said.
The Arctic is a key area influencing global, particularly China 's,
climate, and of great interest to Chinese scientists, the scientist
said. The China Scientific Exploration Association will send the
team to gather information on atmosphere, sea, ice and snow, and
earth in the Arctic region so as to lay a solid foundation for the
future construction of a permanent scientific research station
there.
Chinese scientists started their expedition efforts to the North
Pole area in the early 1990s, and have organized 10 expedition and
research tours to the region so far.
China's first government-funded expedition to the North Pole was
carried out from July to September 1999.
( 09/08/2001)