极地位于地球南北两端，是全球变化研究的关键地区，要了解全球变化，特别是全球气候变化，必须对极地有所研究。我国的南极和北极实地科学考察研究，分别始于20世纪80年代和90年代。作为国家行为，到2011年年底，组织了28次南极考察、4次北冰洋考察和8次北极陆地考察；在南北极建立了4个科学考察站，6个自动气象站；形成了以有人考察站、无人自动气象站和“雪龙”号破冰科学考察船为主体的极地科学考察研究硬件支撑体系。在此过程中初步建成了包括常规气象业务、准业务和短期考察在内的中国极地大气科学观测工程体系；该技术系统所获科学数据已在我国极地科学研究中广泛应用，并在国内外产生了重大影响。

The polar regions are located in the north and south ends on the earth, which are the key areas of global change research. To understand global change, especially the global climate change, it is needed to research on polar atmosphere. Chinese Arctic and Antarctic of scientific investigation started in 80s and 90s of last century. As a national action, by the end of 2011, 28 times Antarctic expeditions and 8 times Antarctic inland expeditions, and 4 time Arctic expeditions were organized. 3 Antarctic bases (Great Wall, Zhongshan and Kunlun) and 1 Arctic base (Yellow River) and 6 automatic weather stations were established. Formed by the manual weather station, automatic weather station and weather observation on the “Xuelong” icebreaker vessel as the main platform of the polar expedition of hardware support system. Chinese polar atmospheric science observation system is gradually formed including the meteorological operational observation and short term investigation study. Chinese polar meteorological expedition and research work has made great progress by the efforts near 30 years.