CANBERRA, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Australian Antarctic researchers have departed on an ambitious mission to retrieve million-year-old ice in a bid to better understand climate change.

A convoy of five tractor trains departed Casey Research Station -- one of the Australian Antarctic Division's three permanent outposts -- on December 23 for a 1200 kilometer (km) journey to Little Dome C at the frigid interior of the continent.

The team of 10 explorers is aiming to forge as much of the route as possible during the current Antarctic summer.

If the convoy, which is traveling at a maximum speed of 10km per hour, is able to reach Little Dome C at 3230 meters above sea level, it will set up a camp for drilling within 12 months.

Scientists will drill 2.8km into the ice to retrieve ice dating back one million years, trapped ancient air bubbles and chemicals from which will be used to improve the understanding of climate change and model future scenarios.

Tanya Plibersek, the minister for the environment and water, said this is Australia's most ambitious polar exploration project in 20 years.

"The effort of this team and their summer expedition will provide the logistical support for Australia to drill and return the ice core for climate research," she said in a media release on Saturday.

"If successful, it will be the oldest ice core ever obtained."

The team includes a field leader, glaciologist, doctor, mechanics and engineers.

On December 25 they travelled 37km before sitting down for the Christmas dinner of roast turkey and pudding cooked in the mobile traverse kitchen.

According to a progress report, the convoy had traveled more than 400 kilometers by Thursday, leaving more than 700 kilometers to go. Enditem

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