今年「野外長征Mighty Rovers」主題是「了解極地環境、探討氣候變化」，探索地點就是大家甚少踏足的地方－北極。

北極是地球表面上最北的點。北極全被冰塊覆蓋並沒有陸地，但卻是許多野生動物如善知鳥、海豹和北極熊的棲息地。自然現象如北極光是引人入勝的自然現象。北極的海水長期被浮冰所覆蓋。但受到氣候變化和全球暖化影響，極地氣溫正在逐漸上升。科學家憂慮，海冰融化使海水增加並吸收更多熱能，令當地氣溫進一步上升，導致北冰洋冰塊數量及面積大減。

為了進一步了解中國在北極圈的科研項目，深入探討北極氣候變化對中國氣候的影響、北冰洋獨特的生物資源和基因資源以及北極地質和地球物理，並察看極地的轉變如何影響我們的生活，野外長征2009將遠征北極！

今年主要受惠機構，是『極地博物館基金』和『樂善行』。所籌得款項將協助李樂詩博士的『極地博物館基金』，在香港設立『極地博物館資源中心』，以及繼續提供款項給予『樂善行』在中國內地拓展教育工程。

我們已再踏出一步，並深信有您們的參與和支持才會更進一步。您可以透過以下途徑參與和支持「野外長征Mighty Rovers」：

1) 參加「野外長征Mighty Rovers」體驗旅程(名額只有 10 位)
2) 蒞臨「野外長征Mighty Rovers」的公開展覽
3) 參加「野外長征Mighty Rovers」講座
4) 留意「野外長征Mighty Rovers」的報導及詳情

希望能與您一起探索和保護非比尋常的北極！

「野外長征 Mighty Rovers」召集人 – 陳嘉俊

The theme of Mighty Rovers 2009 is “Polar Conservation and Climate Change”. The destination is literally at the end of the world – the North Pole.

The North Pole is the northernmost point on Earth, around where a wide range of unique species inhabit and magnificent natural phenomenon like twilight is seen. The North Pole is located in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, waters that are almost permanently covered with constantly shifting sea ice. But due to climate change and global warming, it is predicted that North Pole may become seasonally ice-free in the near future.

To raise the public awareness towards polar conservation and further understand the effect of climate change in the arctic region, we will set off for North Pole this year and hope to bring more information to you all.

The major beneficiaries this year are Polar Museum Foundation and Care Action. Proceeds will go to the setting up of a Polar Museum Resources Centre in Hong Kong, and to the development of education projects by Care Action in deprived areas of China.

Your participation and support is crucial to Mighty Rovers. You may support us in the following ways:

1) Join Mighty Rovers Arctic Expedition (10 quotas only!)
2) Visit our Mighty Rovers exhibition
3) Attend our Mighty Rovers talks
4) Read our special features stories

We sincerely hope that you can join with us to explore the mysterious North Pole!

Convener of Mighty Rovers – Jan K.C Chan