DALIAN, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists set off on the country's 16th Arctic expedition on Friday as three oceanographic research ships, namely Xuelong, Xuelong 2 and Jidi, departed from the coastal city of Dalian in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

A drone photo taken on July 3, 2026 shows research icebreaker Xuelong (rear) departing from Dalian Port while Xuelong 2 preparing to leave at Dalian Port in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province. China's 16th Arctic Ocean scientific expedition team set sail from Dalian on Friday. (Photo: Xinhua)

This expedition is organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and jointly carried out by these three ships and another research ship Tansuo-3. It is expected to be completed in early October this year.

The expedition will focus on responding to global climate change and its impacts, conducting comprehensive surveys and monitoring in fields such as sea ice, hydrology, biology, ecology and atmospheric environment in key areas of the Arctic Ocean.

Team leader of this expedition, Wang Jinhui, said that currently the natural environment of the Arctic is undergoing rapid and profound changes driven by global climate warming, with trends like sea ice melting intensifying. These changes concern the survival and development of human being as a whole, bearing global significance and international impact.

Wang added that China's sustained and comprehensive Arctic expeditions serve as important support for addressing global climate change and promoting sustainable development in the Arctic region.

This expedition will also explore international frontier issues including the accretion mechanism of the Gakkel Ridge and dynamic evolution of the oceanic crust, and carry out collaborative operations with scientists from Russia, Germany and other countries. This will provide scientific support for China and the international community to better understand, protect and govern the Arctic.