China launches Zhongshan Station in Antarctica in fight against climate change

China launched its first overseas atmospheric background station in Antarctica at the commemoration of World Antarctica Day on Sunday.

The Zhongshan National Atmospheric Background Station, situated on the Antarctic continent, officially began operations on Dec 1, marking a milestone in the country's 40 years of polar expeditions.

The station is China's first overseas station of its kind and the ninth atmospheric background station to become operational nationwide. Its launch comes after 16 years of scientific research and innovation, integrating the facility into China's atmospheric observation network, according to the China Meteorological Administration.

It will conduct continuous, long-term monitoring of atmospheric composition and concentration changes in Antarctica, providing crucial data to enhance global efforts against climate change.

"The Antarctic region serves as a critical background for global atmospheric observation," said Ding Minghu, director of the Institute of Global Change and Polar Meteorology at the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences.

Polar regions are "amplifiers" of global climate change, Ding said. Observation data from Zhongshan Station hold unique scientific value for understanding long-term atmospheric changes, stratosphere-troposphere interactions and the impact of human activities on the planet, he said.

China's national atmospheric observation network currently comprises nine operational background stations, including the Waliguan Baseline Observatory in Qinghai province. Ten additional stations are undergoing one-year observation trials which were initiated in July, the CMA said.