A Chinese exploration team on Monday set up a seismic observatory near its camp in Grove Mountains, east Antarctica.

It is the first time that China has built such an observatory in Grove Mountains, one of rare areas in the Antarctica where mountain peaks jut out from icecaps, hiding numerous ancient secrets about the Earth's geological and climate changes, as well as its circling around the Sun.

Currently China has set up six seismic observatories between China's Antarctic Zhongshan Station and Kunlun Station, said Doctor Chen Hong from the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences.

As the equipment at the observatory is very sensitive to vibration, in order to ensure the accuracy of collected data, the exploration team decided to locate the observatory 500 meters from its camp and 400 km from Zhongshan Station.

Experts say observing Antarctic inland quake helps verify the structure of the Earth's crust and mantle and know about the plate tectonics and geodynamics of this area.

The exploration team started its mission on December 28. China has performed four explorations to Grove Mountains.

(Xinhua News Agency January 5, 2010)