A Japanese group of 56 researchers and four media personnel have set off from from Narita International Airport as the 48th Antarctic expedition. The will arrive at Fremantle port in Australia, where they will board the 11,600-ton icebreaker Shirase.

The expedition hopes to reach their destination, Japan's Showa Base in Antarctica, in mid-December and return to Japan next spring.

The departure marked the 50th anniversary of Japan's exploration of Antarctica. The main purpose of the journey will be to monitor air particles to study global warming.

Another team, made up of three British men and their Canadian guide are departing for Antarctica this week from South Africa. Team n2i will attempt to haul sleds, using kites when possible to harness the wind, to the little-known Pole of Inaccessibility.

The pole is the site of an old Soviet research station abandoned since 1958. Located 878 km from the South Pole at 82 degrees 52 minutes, it marks the exact center point of the continent.