Ice floes in the Ross Sea on January 28, 2021.
Low dark clouds blocked the sun in the extreme day zone, and the cold wind whistled between the sky and the earth, and the goose feather-like snow was knocking against the windows like ice grains in the wind.
After the two went to Forgotten Hanchuan, Shao Zifeng thought that Chen Yixin would come to him to talk about the infection, but she acted like it had never happened.
However, after they left, the Xuelong, which had been anchored in the Ross Sea for a long time, started its journey again. This floating ice area is like a pure white ice field. It is the last barrier between the Ross Sea and the Antarctic continent. One of the highest risk areas.
Click!
The sound of continuous cracking echoed in the wind and snow. The bow of the Xuelong was like a sharp blade, cutting through the solid ice and advancing slowly, like a piece of white paper being slowly torn apart.
The Xuelong left a long black trail behind, which quickly refrozen in the low temperature.
"Captain, my ship has penetrated deep into the floe ice area, and the thickness of the ice layer ahead is gradually approaching 1.5 meters."
In the control room of the bridge, a notification sounded constantly. The captain, who was walking back and forth with his hands behind his back, stood still when he heard the words, leaned over the back of the second mate's chair with one hand, and watched for a while in front of the screen.
"Notice, the bow water storage tank is ready to be filled with water, the bow propeller is preheated, and the main propeller increases the horsepower to flush the ice!"
"Yes! The water storage tank is starting to fill with water."
"Liquid ballast is ready."
"The bow propeller warm-up is complete."
"The propeller is on, ready to evacuate the ice ahead."
"The main propeller has been opened to the maximum, ready."
The captain's instructions were completed in an orderly manner, he nodded with satisfaction, his eyes fixed on the ice thickness measured on the screen.
1.43 meters.
1.47 meters.
1.51 meters.
"Start rushing ice!"
"Yes, start rushing ice!"
Boom!
The control room suddenly trembled, and there was a constant creaking sound from the outside.
The Xuelong was like a wild horse that had run away. The bow of the ship suddenly rushed on top of the solid ice layer. As the weight gradually increased and decreased, the ice layer under the Xuelong quickly cracked and collapsed.
Whoa!
As the ice layer shattered, the ship slammed heavily into the sea, causing a large splash of water.
The next moment, the Xuelong rushed to the ice layer in front of it again, and started the ice-breaking journey in a cycle.
"Huh~"
A turbulence suddenly came, and the coffee in Cang Haiyuan's hand splashed out, and Shao Zifeng quickly moved his feet to escape the disaster.
This is a small reception room. In order to alleviate the loneliness of the Antarctic trip, there are many themed reception rooms like this on the Xuelong.
The reception room is not large, only enough for three or four friends to chat, but each reception room is decorated in a different style.
For example, the room they are in is decorated in a European-style low-luxury style.
The floor is covered with a thick woolen blanket, and on top of the woolen blanket is a European-style coffee table and four sofa chairs of the same style.
Red flames flickered from the fireplace display on the wall, crackling from time to time.
Ball seemed to like the fireplace, and it nestled beside the fireplace to form a ball.
The vinyl record player by the fireplace was originally playing music, but Shao Zifeng shut it off for fear of disturbing Qiuqiu's sleep.
In addition, hangers, coffee machines and other trinkets are readily available, making people completely forget that they are on a boat to the Antarctic continent.
Boom!
Before Shao Zifeng could speak, the Xuelong again tilted briefly, and all kinds of tremors and loud noises were faintly heard.
The ball formed into balls rolled around in the room, and the little guy's eyes flashed with excitement when he was picked up by Shao Zifeng.
"Hey~"
Qiuqiu, who was in a good mood, threw himself into Shao Zifeng's arms and acted coquettishly, and soon fell asleep again.
After drinking the remaining coffee in the cup, Cang Haiyuan stretched his neck and looked out.
Because of the great temperature difference between indoor and outdoor, the porthole was covered with a thick layer of water vapor.
Cang Haiyuan got up and wiped off the water vapor.
"Tsk, I didn't expect to start crashing the ice now."
Shao Zifeng held the ball curled up in his arms to sleep, and cast a questioning look at Cang Haiyuan.
Walking back and putting the cup on the table, Cang Haiyuan took out a tissue to wipe the coffee stains on his body and explained: "Modern polar icebreakers generally adopt two methods, one is 'continuous' ice breaking, which relies on the special bow of the icebreaker. Driven by its own powerful power, it cuts through the ice to open up channels, but this is only suitable for ice layers with a thickness of 1.5 and below."
"The other is the 'impact-type' ice breaking currently used by the Xuelong. It is probably using the front propeller to extract the water supported under the ice, and then increase the horsepower to rush to the ice, relying on the icebreaker's own weight to crush the ice."
After speaking, he folded his hands behind his head and leaned lazily on the sofa: "It seems that I won't be able to sleep well tonight again."
Shao Zifeng stroked Qiuqiu's jagged back lightly, turned his head to look at the gloomy dark clouds outside: "After this floes, it's the Antarctic continent."
"Yes, our destination this time is the new Ross Sea station under construction on Enxburg Island. According to the current speed of a few knots, it is estimated that we can arrive in two days."
"New station?" Shao Zifeng was taken aback: "Isn't our first stop the Great Wall Station on King George Island?"
Cang Haiyuan sighed and put his legs on the coffee table in front of him.
"A lot of decoration materials have been transported on this ship, and we need to stop there for a period of time to provide construction materials and supplies to the workers who are building the new station."
As a person who didn't even know the seasons in Antarctica before, the only understanding of Daxia's research station in Antarctica was the Great Wall Station built in the early years.
As for the scientific research stations in Zhongshan, Kunlun, and Mount Tai, I only learned about them slowly after boarding the ship. Why did a new Ross Sea station pop up.
"What about the Great Wall Station?"
"I won't go." Cang Haiyuan said with a bitter face: "The Great Wall Station is located on King George Island. Strictly speaking, it is not even an Antarctic research station, because that place is outside the Antarctic Circle. As the first scientific research station in my country, its It's more symbolic."
"If we have enough time, the purpose of the first stop is really the Great Wall Station, but now." Cang Haiyuan smacked his lips: "According to Professor Chen's intention, we will disembark at the new station in Ross Bay, and then proceed all the way inland, Up to 'Dome A' at the highest point of the Antarctic inland ice sheet, where our summer scientific research station 'Kunlun Station' is located."
"Across the Antarctic interior?"
Shao Zifeng was shocked by Chen Yixin's bold idea.
As the last pure land in the world, Antarctica is not only protected by the laws of various countries, but also has a harsh environment that is almost a forbidden area for life.
The Antarctic continent has a severe cold climate, frequent storms and snow, dry air and little precipitation.
Due to the high altitude, thin air, and the reflection of solar radiation on the surface of ice and snow, Antarctica is the coldest region in the world, with an average temperature 20°C lower than that of the North Pole.
The annual average temperature of the Antarctic continent is -25°C, the annual average temperature of the Antarctic coastal area is about -17 to -20°C, and the annual average temperature of the inland area is -40 to -50°C.
This means that if they set off from the new Ross Sea Station to the Kunlun Station in the inland ice dome, the environment will only get worse and the temperature will get lower and lower.
If it’s just cold, it’s okay, the three-piece suit of warm clothes now equipped is enough to resist the cold.
In addition to the low temperature, the Antarctic continent is also the windiest region in the world.
On average, there are 300 days of strong winds above level 8 each year, and the annual average wind speed is 19.4 m/s.
And human scientists have observed a hurricane with a wind speed of 100 m/s in the Antarctic, which is equivalent to three times that of a typhoon of category 12, and is also the largest wind speed recorded in the world so far.
To put it bluntly, many people may not have a specific concept.
In 1960, Dr. Fukushima, who was conducting a scientific investigation at the Fusang Scientific Research Station, walked out of the cafeteria of the base to feed the dogs.
Just a few tens of meters away, he encountered a blizzard with a wind speed of 35 m/s. After the blizzard passed, Dr. Fukushima also disappeared.
It was not until 7 years later that his body was found 4.2 kilometers away from the scientific research station. This is the power of the Antarctic storm.
Once blown away by the strong wind in Antarctica, there is basically no possibility of coming back alive. Even if you are lucky not to be killed by a fall, you will die of desperation in rapid hypothermia.
It was still snowing outside the porthole, and the tremor of the Xuelong breaking through the ice came faintly.
There was no sound in the room other than the crackling of the electric fireplace.
Cang Haiyuan looked at the coffee machine at the door, and he gave up the idea of drinking coffee after suffering from lazy cancer.
"If there is enough time, according to the original plan, we will stop at the Great Wall Station for a while, then detour to the new station to unload construction materials, and finally arrive at the Zhongshan Station in the Rasman Hills of East Antarctica."
"Zhongshan Station is the starting point to go to Kunlun Station. Not only is the distance closer, but you can also go to Taishan Station for supplies on the way."
"But you also know that the delay in our voyage is too long. Now the window period of the Antarctic summer is constantly shortening, and the time left for the scientific research team is getting shorter and shorter."
"According to the current speed of the icebreaker, I am afraid that the summer will end when it arrives at Zhongshan Station, so Professor Chen is not willing to waste time on the icebreaker."
Shao Zifeng understood the truth, perhaps because of Chen Zhenglong's relationship, or because of Chen Yixin's contempt for life, Shao Zifeng was inexplicably annoyed.
"But even so, doesn't she know what the Antarctic continent is like? This kind of thing is easy to say, but in reality, reaching the ice dome from the new Ross Sea station is equivalent to crossing half of the continent. It takes such a long distance. Carrying various instruments and daily necessities, what should I do with supplies? Eat snow?"
"Even if you don't think about your own life, can't you think about the lives of others?"
Shao Zifeng became more and more angry, and in the end he was a little bit reluctant to say anything.
The room was silent for a while, Cang Haiyuan looked at Shao Zifeng in surprise, wondering why he was angry.
Qiuqiu was also awakened by Shao Zifeng, and looked up at him blankly.
The little guy rarely saw Shao Zifeng angry, and was a little overwhelmed for a while.
"It turns out that I am such a person in your heart."
At this moment, Chen Yixin's voice sounded from behind them.
Cang Haiyuan hurriedly sat in danger and looked ahead, holding up his coffee cup gracefully.
Hey, no more coffee.
Forget it, let's pretend there's still coffee.
Thinking like this, Cang Haiyuan raised the coffee cup to his mouth and covered his nose.
Both eyes moved back and forth restlessly.
Shao Zifeng turned his head and saw Chen Yixin in a white coat standing by the door with her hands in her pockets, her freshly washed curly hair loosely scattered.
Seeing Shao Zifeng's gaze, she pushed on her glasses and looked at Shao Zifeng with a smile: "I don't know if you don't tell me."
As she said that, she walked in and closed the solid wood door, then passed by the coffee machine and made two cups of coffee.
"I came to you for something. The access card that Tang Tang asked for for me was not intended to eavesdrop on your chat."
Handing a cup of coffee to Shao Zifeng, Chen Yixin sat on the sofa facing the door.
Taking a sip of the instant coffee in the coffee machine, Chen Yixin took off her glasses and put them on the table. She pinched the bridge of her nose with her hands.
"I've spoken to the people on the team before that this operation is not forcing anyone to participate."
"In other words, even if it's just me, I'll do it."
Shao Zifeng looked straight at Chen Yixin: "Only alive can there be more possibilities."
"Who said it wasn't." Chen Yixin smiled casually: "But if you choose to come to Antarctica, you are ready to die at any time, just like Dr. Fukushima from Fusang Country, he stayed at the scientific research base, but still died. "
"Maybe this is a person's life."
"Objective idealism."
Chen Yixin pulled her hair together and smiled: "You know, what I want to study is not the existence of idealism."
"So do you want to go?" After speaking, she looked at Shao Zifeng with bright eyes.
Shao Zifeng looked at her for a while, and finally shook his head helplessly: "Go."
Hearing his answer, Chen Yixin smiled even happier.
crunch.
The Xuelong stopped at a cliff-like fracture, and a layer of fractured ice more than ten meters high in front of the ship blocked their way.
The fractured ice stretched for thousands of miles and melted into a world of pure white.
This is the limit of what icebreakers can reach, where the Ross Sea meets the Antarctic continent.
Above the fault is a real snow field, on which there are already a dozen people waiting. They are the builders of the new Ross Sea station, who are responsible for receiving the construction equipment.
At this time, the wind and snow gradually subsided, the dim sun emerged from the dark clouds, and the cry of an unknown mutant creature was heard in the distance.
Shao Zifeng came out of the island, stood on the deck and took a deep breath, the cold air made him feel like his lungs were freezing.
Qiuqiu, who was sleeping in his arms, was woken up by the cold. It groaned in dissatisfaction, and burrowed into Shao Zifeng's warm clothes.
The cold air penetrated through the gap, and Shao Zifeng couldn't help but shuddered.
"Hey~"
Qiuqiu's two little claws clawed at the neckline, looking at the pure white world in front of him, the little guy's mouth widened in shock.
At this time, the robotic arm and gantry hanging on the deck slowly started to run after the ice was removed, and began to unload materials on the ice layer.
Shao Zifeng stood and watched for a while, then turned and walked towards the gangway.
He still has work to do today.
After entering the Antarctic continent, the ice hornwhale can no longer continue to follow. He wants to explain the contract to the ice hornwhale today.
If it is willing to go with itself.
Shao Zifeng clenched the portable contract pendant in his pocket.
(PS: Because my investigation has been ignored so far, I have compiled a chapter and sent it. And the big guys, please don’t let me code words, I will get distracted when I talk about code words.)
(End of this chapter)