Qin Dahe male, Han nationality, is a native of Lanzhou, Gansu Province. He was born in 1947 and in 1970, graduated from the Faculty of Geography of Lanzhou University. He began work in 1978.
Qin is a glaciologist and the first Chinese ever to cross the South Pole. He was a member of the 1989 International Cross South Pole Expedition and has published numerous ground-breaking articles, using evidence gathered from his Antarctic expeditions. His work, which concentrated on the differences between the southeastern and southwestern parts of the Antarctic ice surface, reveals that the hydrogen isotope content in the southwestern area is 40% higher than that in the southeast. Qin has been praised as one of China's most outstanding scientists.
Qin served as Director of the China Meteorological Administration from 2003-2007. He enjoys a State Special Allowance.