After about 50 days of Arctic research expedition, Zhang Peng, a postdoctoral researcher from Institute of Atmospheric Sciences of Fudan University, finally returned home.
This scientific expedition intended to observe the changes in the atmosphere, marine environment and marine geology of the Arctic Ocean. It was also aimed at collecting data and samples of marine life, marine chemistry and marine minerals in the East Siberian Sea, Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea.
Setting out with researchers from South Korea, Russia, the United States, Britain, France, Italy, Croatia, India and etc. on a South Korean icebreaker called “Araon”, Zhang Peng, who was responsible for radiosonde observation, overcame various troubles and dangers caused by weather and channel changes as he sent aloft sounding balloons for over 150 times within 53 days.
The first-hand data collected in this expedition can make up for the lack of Arctic atmospheric data caused by inadequate fixed sounding observation equipment.
Under the influence of “Polar Amplification”, the increase in temperature of Arctic atmosphere today is about twice that of mid-latitude regions, resulting in the acceleration of polar ice melting and the intensification of polar storm activities, and greater possibilities of extreme weather in Eurasia and North America.
It is also the first time that Fudan University has participated in an international Arctic research expedition. Researchers from the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, established in 2016, have been paying close attention to the impacts of the polar regions on the global and regional environment, ecology, weather and climate by seeking domestic and international collaboration in the polar research.
