CCTV News: Pay attention to the latest progress of China's 41st Antarctic scientific expedition. During the ocean inspection in the Amundsen Sea, the expedition team not only conducted routine investigations and research on the sea area, but also used long columnar piston gravity column samplers to perform gravity column sampling operations. The sampling operation has obtained the longest sedimentary core in the Amundsen Sea and Sea Mountain area in the Antarctic region of my country, which can be used to reveal the evolution of the Amundsen Sea paleo-ocean and paleoenvironment.

长柱状活塞重力柱取样器简称重力柱，是依靠重力对海底沉积物进行取样的科考设备，主要包括钻取样品用的刀头、储存样品的套管、重块以及触发器等四部分。 It is understood that the total length of this gravity column equipment is about 22 meters, and the sampling location is located in a canyon area of ​​the Amundsen Sea and Sea Mountain, with a water depth of more than 2,800 meters. From the assembly to the recycling of the equipment, sediment samples were successfully obtained after more than 20 hours. After the scientific expedition team returned to China, they will conduct physical, chemical, micro-paleobiology analysis on the samples to understand the earth's environment at that time and provide a basis for predicting future climate changes.

重力柱取样：给地球“打针”

在阿蒙森海进行重力柱取样，队员们对这项作业有个很形象的说法，叫给地球“打针”。 Although it is an "injection", it is actually a heavy-duty project. It took more than 20 hours from assembly, decentralization to recycling.

In early February, at 74 degrees south latitude and 110 degrees west longitude, it was rare to have a sunny day on the Amundsen Sea. Because the length of the gravity column used this time is more than 20 meters, the operation has high requirements for stability, so on the eve of the official operation, the "Xuelong 2" stopped the ship for on-site assembly of the equipment.

“雪龙2”号实验室主任夏寅月介绍，重力柱一共分四节，每节是5.5米。 Now see the two black tubes are its main tubes, connected by yellow joints. These plastic pipes are inner tubes, and the core samples are stored inside the inner tube. Each layer of outer tube is fitted with an inner tube, and the entire inner tube forms a whole. The sample taken out is a complete sample.

It sounds simple to connect the inner and outer tubes, but it is really not easy to operate. The outer pipe of more than 5 meters long is 206 kilograms, and each connecting head weighs 60 kilograms. After the inner pipe is connected, it must be completely driven by manpower for assembly. In order to fix, each inner and outer tube and connecting head have 8 corresponding screw ports, which makes the connection a delicate technical job. Xu Hao has participated in the gravity column operation in previous years, and he will coordinate the specific work of assembly and collection.

凌晨2时，“雪龙2”号抵达重力柱作业的预定位置。 From the sea surface to the seabed more than 2,800 meters. If you want to "inject" the earth, how can you ensure that you don't misstep? The power positioning system was activated on board. Zhu Pengtao, the first mate of "Xuelong 2", introduced that gravity column operation requires relatively high position accuracy of ships (ships). The current sea conditions are relatively good, and the positioning accuracy error is about 10 cm.

Snow began to fall outdoors, and at 3:30 in the morning, the gravity column operation officially began. The gravity column is placed on the support frame and moves from the inside of the ship's side to the outside of the ship's side through the flip mechanism and the 6-ton crane at the stern. The most important thing is to coordinate the same pace and precisely.

根据操作流程，先用地质缆按稳定的速度，把重力柱下放到距离海底9米的位置，此时黄色的小重锤先触底，激发释放器开关并脱钩，重力柱自由落体，依靠自身重力扎入到海底进行地质取样。 As the yellow heavy hammers into the water, the gravity column is adjusted to the correct position bit by bit. At 6 a.m., the gravity column began to lower the work. After 3 hours of drop-down recovery, the gravity column was discharged at 9:10 am.夏寅月表示，重立柱到底的深度应该在2821米左右，实际放的长度在2840多米，收的时候差不多也是在2840米的时候，张力开始变大，最大达到11.7吨，正常张力应该在7.4吨左右。 The high tension indicates that the gravity column is penetrated deep, and the effectiveness of sampling will be greatly improved. When the columns were placed on the deck, the yellow substance attached to the outer tube at the bottom section attracted everyone's attention.

据夏寅月介绍，底栖的沉积物是比较有意义的沉积物岩层。 Samples taken for the first time in Amundsen Sea and Sea Mountain. He was very satisfied and the whole process went smoothly.

According to preliminary analysis, this gravity column operation successfully obtained samples of seabed sediment, which can be said to have successfully "give an injection" to the earth. As the scientific expedition team members return to China in-depth analysis and research, it will promote our country to further understand and protect Antarctica.