Feb 11, 2026, Ling Meng

Professor Song Dehai from Ocean University of China, also a SARCCM member and UNSW alumni, is participating in China's 42nd Antarctic Scientific Expedition. On board the Xuelong, Professor Song took part in a series of oceanographic survey operations, including the deployment of CTD profilers, vertical biological trawling, krill trawling, midwater fish trawling, the deployment, recovery and mooring of gravity corers and subsurface buoys, as well as observations of Antarctic polynyas. The Oceanographic Team of Xuelong consists of 31 researchers from 12 Chinese research institutes and universities. Scheduled to conduct a comprehensive marine scientific survey in the Amundsen Sea and Ross Sea of West Antarctica from mid-January to mid-February 2026, the team aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the ecosystem characteristics of the target sea areas, clarify the trophic level structure of key species in the upper and middle marine layers, track the changing trends of key populations, and further elevate China's research capabilities in cutting-edge scientific fields such as Antarctic marine ecosystems and climate change. Meanwhile, the team will carry out seabed topographic surveys to ascertain the topographic and geomorphic features of the target sea areas. During the Xuelong's voyage, the Oceanographic Team will also organize continuous underway observations in hydrology, meteorology, biology, chemistry and other disciplines, collect relevant data on key elements of the marine ecosystems in the Westerlies and around Antarctica, and dynamically track the marine ecological status of the Antarctic circumpolar region. It is reported that the Xuelong was hit by a severe cyclone during its third crossing of the Westerlies, suffering violent hull oscillations and extremely high storm surges rarely seen in recent years. Overcoming adverse factors such as harsh weather conditions, the Oceanographic Team is on track to complete oceanographic operations at more than 20 survey stations.

At ship time on January 16, members of the Xuelong's Oceanographic Team reviewed the data transmitted back by expendable bathythermographs in the lab. The person on the far right is Song Dehai. Photo by Gu Tiancheng, Xinhua News Agency.

中 国海洋大学宋德海教授参加中国第42次南极科学考察

 

中国海洋大学宋德海教授搭乘“雪龙”号参加中国第42次 南极科学考察，参与完成了包括CTD（温盐深仪）投放、生物 垂直拖网、磷虾拖网、中层鱼拖网、重力柱下水、回收及布放潜标、南极冰间湖观测等多项大洋考察作业。“雪龙”号大洋 队由来自中国12家科研院所及高校的31人组成，计划于2026年1月中旬至2月 中旬，聚焦西南极阿蒙森海、罗斯海开展海洋科学综合调查，深入认识目标海域生态系统特征，明晰海洋中上层关键物种营 养级结构，跟踪掌握关键种群变化趋势，进一步提升我国在南极海洋生态系统与气候变化等前沿科学领域的研究水平；同时 开展海底地形调查，了解目标海域海底地形地貌特征。在“雪龙”号航行途中，大洋队还将组织开展水文、气象、生物和化 学等专业走航观测，获取西风带及环南极海洋生态系统关键要素相关数据，动态跟踪环南极海洋生态状况。据悉，“雪龙” 号在第三次穿越西风带时遭遇强气旋袭击，船身剧烈颠簸，超高涌浪近年罕见。大洋队克服天气等不利因素影响，计划完成 超过20个站位的大洋作业任务。

船 时1月16日， “雪龙”号大洋队队员在实验室查看抛弃式温深仪回传的数据。右一为宋德海。新华社记者 顾天成 摄