Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration
Encyclopedia
The Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration (CAA) (previously the Chinese Antarctic Administration of the State Antarctic Research Committee) is a Beijing
-based agency of the People's Republic of China
's State Oceanic Administration
(SOA). Established in 1981, it organizes China's scientific program for both the Arctic
and Antarctic
, and it provides logistic support to Antarctic expeditions. There are several; divisions, including General Affairs, Operation & Logistics, Science Programs, International Cooperation, representation in the Chinese Embassy in Chile
, and a Winter Training Base. The director is Qu Tanzhou
.
The CAA organizes, coordinates and supervises China's polar program. As such, its responsibilities include: developing an integrated national polar research strategy, developing policy to guide national polar research activities, developing a five-year plan which coordinates the national policy, updating the national polar plan on an annual basis, coordinating the annual national polar research expedition, promoting coordination of polar research programs with other agencies, and supporting polar research cooperation with other nations and international organizations.
The CAA is affiliated with the International Arctic Research Center
,
and the International Arctic Science Committee
.
news report stated that Chinese scientists would begin naming 46 newly surveyed, anonymous Antarctic islands and that the CAA, with its teammate Sina.com
, would collect candidate names. From 2007 through 2009, the CAA organized a government sponsored research project to enhance its understanding of the legal, military and political issues associated with the Arctic. The agency also operates a winter training base at Yabuli Ski Resort in the northern province of Heilonjiang.
The International Polar Year
2007-2008 China Programme included a partnership between the International Polar Foundation, the CCA, and the Polar Research Institute of China. This included the participation of Jean de Pomereu, reporter and photographer, in the 25th CHINARE Expedition late in the year in 2008. He traveled aboard the Chinese icebreaker
, Xuelong
("Snow Dragon"), then reported from China's east Antarctic research station, Antarctic Zhongshan Station
. The expedition team sent by the CAA was also entrusted with starting construction of the Antarctic Kunlun Station
, China's third Antarctic station.
Xuelong, China's only polar research icebreaker was purchased in 1993 from Ukraine, and has made 24 research expeditions to the Antarctic and three to the Arctic. In 2009, the CAA began planning for a Chinese-built icebreaker due to China's expanding polar exploration
activities.
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
-based agency of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
's State Oceanic Administration
State Oceanic Administration
State Oceanic Administration is an administrative agency subordinate to the Ministry of Land and Resources, responsible for the supervision and management of sea area in the People's Republic of China and coastal environmental protection, protecting national maritime rights and organizing...
(SOA). Established in 1981, it organizes China's scientific program for both the Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
and Antarctic
Antarctic
The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters and island territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctic Convergence...
, and it provides logistic support to Antarctic expeditions. There are several; divisions, including General Affairs, Operation & Logistics, Science Programs, International Cooperation, representation in the Chinese Embassy in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, and a Winter Training Base. The director is Qu Tanzhou
Qu Tanzhou
Qu Tanzhou is the director of the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration.In 2007 Qu Tanzhou was the director of China's Polar Office of the State Oceanic Administration....
.
The CAA organizes, coordinates and supervises China's polar program. As such, its responsibilities include: developing an integrated national polar research strategy, developing policy to guide national polar research activities, developing a five-year plan which coordinates the national policy, updating the national polar plan on an annual basis, coordinating the annual national polar research expedition, promoting coordination of polar research programs with other agencies, and supporting polar research cooperation with other nations and international organizations.
The CAA is affiliated with the International Arctic Research Center
International Arctic Research Center
The International Arctic Research Center, or IARC, established in 1999, is a research institution focused on integrating and coordinating study of climate change in the Arctic. The primary partners in IARC are Japan and the United States...
,
and the International Arctic Science Committee
International Arctic Science Committee
The International Arctic Science Committee is a non-governmental organization which is composed of international science groups participating in arctic science research. IASC is an International Scientific Associate of ICSU, and was established in 1990...
.
Projects
A 2006 Shanghai DailyShanghai Daily
Shanghai Daily is an English-language newspaper in China started in October 1999 and owned by Wenhui-xinmin United Press Group. Its primary audience is visiting foreigners, mainly overseas investors and tourists to Shanghai, though many Chinese students read it to improve their English...
news report stated that Chinese scientists would begin naming 46 newly surveyed, anonymous Antarctic islands and that the CAA, with its teammate Sina.com
Sina.com
SINA is an online media company for China and Chinese communities around the world. SINA operates four major business lines: Sina Weibo, SINA Mobile, SINA Online, and SINA.net. SINA has over 100 million registered users worldwide...
, would collect candidate names. From 2007 through 2009, the CAA organized a government sponsored research project to enhance its understanding of the legal, military and political issues associated with the Arctic. The agency also operates a winter training base at Yabuli Ski Resort in the northern province of Heilonjiang.
The International Polar Year
International Polar Year
The International Polar Year is a collaborative, international effort researching the polar regions. Karl Weyprecht, an Austro-Hungarian naval officer, motivated the endeavor, but died before it first occurred in 1882-1883. Fifty years later a second IPY occurred...
2007-2008 China Programme included a partnership between the International Polar Foundation, the CCA, and the Polar Research Institute of China. This included the participation of Jean de Pomereu, reporter and photographer, in the 25th CHINARE Expedition late in the year in 2008. He traveled aboard the Chinese icebreaker
Icebreaker
An icebreaker is a special-purpose ship or boat designed to move and navigate through ice-covered waters. Although the term usually refers to ice-breaking ships, it may also refer to smaller vessels .For a ship to be considered an icebreaker, it requires three traits most...
, Xuelong
MV Xue Long
MV Xuě Lóng is a Chinese icebreaker and research vessel.A Vitus Bering–class icebreaker built at the Kherson Shipyard in Ukraine and completed on 1993-03-25, Xuě Lóng is a sister ship of the Russian Vasiliy Golovnin....
("Snow Dragon"), then reported from China's east Antarctic research station, Antarctic Zhongshan Station
Antarctic Zhongshan Station
Zhongshan Station is the second Chinese research station in Antarctica and was opened on February 26th, 1989.It is managed by the Polar Research Institute of China...
. The expedition team sent by the CAA was also entrusted with starting construction of the Antarctic Kunlun Station
Antarctic Kunlun Station
Kunlun Station is one of three Chinese research stations in Antarctica.It is located 4087 m above sea level 7.3 km southwest to Dome A and was officially opened on January 27, 2009. Fully constructed the station is planned to cover an area of 558 m². The main building, covering 236 m², is planned...
, China's third Antarctic station.
Xuelong, China's only polar research icebreaker was purchased in 1993 from Ukraine, and has made 24 research expeditions to the Antarctic and three to the Arctic. In 2009, the CAA began planning for a Chinese-built icebreaker due to China's expanding polar exploration
Polar exploration
Polar exploration may refer to:* Antarctic exploration* Arctic exploration-See also:* Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration* List of Antarctic expeditions* List of Arctic expeditions* List of polar explorers* List of Russian explorers...
activities.