NEUÅLESUND, Norway, June 30 (Xinhua) -- China's Arctic scientific expeditions have made a unique contribution to the fight against climate change
Xinhua News Agency reporters Guo Shuang, Zhang Yuliang, Li Chao
The Arctic is widely regarded as the region with the greatest global climate change. Among them, Svalbard is a frontier area of Arctic warming, and its temperature change is of great significance to the global climate system.
The photo shows China's Arctic Yellow River Station in New Ålesund, Norway, June 21, 2024. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhao Dingzhe)
In the Nova Ålesund region of Svalbard, where China's first Arctic research station is located, the Yellow River station, "the effects of climate change visible to the naked eye can be seen everywhere," Kim Holmen, a special adviser to the Norwegian Institute of Polar Research, said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency a few days ago.
Over the past decades, China's scientific expeditions in the polar regions, especially in the Arctic, have not only expanded the understanding of the cryosphere, provided important data support for global climate change research, but also promoted global efforts to combat climate change through international cooperation and knowledge sharing.
Continuous monitoring of environmental changes to fill in many data gaps
One foot deep, one foot shallow, facing the wind and snow, climb the New Ålesund Glacier to take snow samples, and then return to the scientific research station by boat, analyze the transport and deposition process of sulfate and nitrate plasma in the samples through isotope ion analyzers and other instruments, and use models to analyze the impact of human activities on the natural environment - this is one of the daily work of Chinese scientist Hu Zhengyi in the Arctic glacier scientific expedition.
Since the establishment of the Yellow River Station in 2004, Chinese researchers have continued to monitor changes in the Arctic environment, collecting data on glaciers, terrestrial ecology, marine ecology, and space physics. For example, in the field of glacier research, Chinese researchers continue to monitor glacier surface mass balance data, glacier movement data, glacier temperature at a depth of 10 meters in the ablation zone and accumulation zone, and ice and snow sample analysis data. In ecological (marine and terrestrial) studies, Chinese researchers regularly collect samples to analyze ecological species, distributions, interannual or seasonal changes; In terms of space physics, researchers continue to collect high-altitude physical parameters and analyze changes in the space environment.
The continuous monitoring of China's Arctic scientific expedition provides a large amount of key data on climate change, which is of great significance for understanding and responding to global climate change. In terms of observation and monitoring of rapid warming in the Arctic, China's scientific research achievements have helped the scientific community to more accurately predict global climate change trends. China's continuous field observations and data collection for many years have filled the gaps in the oceanic, terrestrial, meteorological, geological and biological ecological data of polar glaciers, which is crucial for optimizing global climate change models.
The picture shows that on June 22, 2024, in New Alesund, Norway, scientific expedition team members Hu Zhengyi (right), Zhao Hongying (middle), and Wu Xiaohan went out for sampling work. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhao Dingzhe)
Unraveling climate change patterns supports climate model improvements
The Arctic region is widely considered to be the region with the most intense global climate change, a phenomenon known as the "Arctic amplification effect", in which temperatures in the Arctic are rising twice or more faster than the global average. The data shows that temperatures in Svalbard have risen significantly over the past 60 years, especially in the New Ålesund region.
Hu Zhengyi's research results show that Svalbard has less precipitation and stronger glacier melt than Alaska and northern China in the United States. For example, studies on glacier mass balance, sea ice thickness and extent, and atmospheric chemical composition reveal the rate of Arctic sea ice decline and glacier retreat, the response of Arctic glaciers to global warming, and their impact on global sea level rise and climate patterns, providing an important basis for predicting sea level rise.
The data provided by China's Arctic expedition not only helps the scientific community understand the key role of the Arctic region in the global climate system, but also provides key parameters for global climate models, helping scientists to more accurately predict the trend and impact of climate change and take effective measures to address climate change.
For example, the Xuelong 2 polar research vessel has carried out many polar research missions, providing high-quality ocean and climate data to support the improvement of global climate models. The study of glacier mass balance reveals the response of Arctic glaciers to global warming, and provides an important basis for predicting future sea level rise. Sea ice monitoring through satellite and in-situ observations to support research on global ocean circulation and climate systems; In the study of Arctic marine ecosystems, Chinese researchers have provided key data on the health status of Arctic ecosystems by studying the changes in the distribution of marine organisms and the impact of polar environmental changes on ecosystems, as well as the impact of declining sea ice and increasing glacial meltwater on marine ecosystems, which has improved the scientific community's understanding of global biodiversity changes and helped to promote the formulation of Arctic ecological protection measures.
Promote international cooperation and promote knowledge sharing
China actively participates in international polar research cooperation, shares data and research results through cooperation with Arctic countries and international scientific research institutions, promotes the progress of global polar research, provides scientific basis for environmental protection and sustainable development policies in the Arctic, and supports the global climate governance framework.
China has participated in the work of the International Arctic Science Committee and the Arctic Council, and has promoted information sharing and global policy formulation for polar expeditions. In terms of joint scientific research and data sharing, China has established cooperative relations with Norway, Russia, Germany, Thailand and other countries, enhancing the depth and breadth of global climate research. Gal Gabrielsen, head of the ecotoxicology department at the Norwegian Polar Research Institute, told reporters that good academic attitude, advanced experimental equipment, excellent scientific research efficiency and research and analysis capabilities are the advantages of the Chinese team's participation in the project.
At the same time, China has enhanced public awareness and understanding of climate change, increased the attention of all sectors of society to climate change issues, and supported polar protection and climate action by publishing the results of polar expeditions and carrying out popular science activities, including scientific reports, exhibitions, media campaigns, and Arctic Cloud Expeditions to the Yellow River Station.
Humanity today "has common interests, and we must find common solutions," Holmen said, adding that "the Arctic's role for the world is unique and requires the imagination, creativity and talent of all those who can provide solutions." ”
Column Editor-in-Chief: Qin Hong Text Editor: Di Xi
Source: Author: Xinhuanet