China Embarks On Landmark Antarctic Mission To Probe Hidden Lakes Beneath Ice Sheet
The 42nd Antarctic expedition will attempt China’s first clean drilling into subglacial lakes, seeking clues to Earth’s climate past and life’s extreme frontiers
China’s 42nd Antarctic expedition departed from Shanghai on Saturday, marking the start of one of its most ambitious scientific missions yet a bid to drill into subglacial lakes buried deep beneath the Antarctic ice sheet.
Led by Wei Fuhai, chief scientist and head of the expedition, the team will for the first time conduct clean drilling experiments in the continent’s interior, using hot-water and thermal-melting systems developed in China. The operation aims to penetrate more than 3,000 metres of solid ice to reach the pristine lakes sealed below.
“These lakes are natural laboratories,” Wei said before departure. “Their extreme conditions – high pressure, darkness, and nutrient scarcity — preserve a unique ecosystem and vital records of Earth’s climatic history.”
Subglacial lakes, isolated for millions of years, are among the least explored environments on the planet. Scientists believe their sediments could hold insights into past atmospheric composition, microbial evolution, and the dynamics of the Antarctic ice sheet itself all crucial to understanding how the planet responds to long-term warming and cooling cycles.
Beyond the drilling, the expedition will also collect long-term climate and oceanographic data from the Amundsen and Ross Seas, regions critical to global sea-level stability and heat circulation.
Long Wei, deputy director of the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration, said the mission reflects China’s growing scientific and environmental commitment. “Enhancing our understanding and stewardship of Antarctica is essential not only for advancing polar science but also for contributing to a shared global future,” he said.
The voyage underscores the strategic and scientific importance of Antarctica a continent that both mirrors and moderates the planet’s climate. As nations deepen their presence there, the balance between exploration and preservation grows ever more delicate.
