Abstract: Scientific research in the polar region has become the focus of the world's major powers, because of the important role of the poles in the Earth’s climate system. This situation has given rise to continuously increasing investment in and scientific output about polar research in recent years. Scientific research on the polar regions is extensive, including astronomy, atmospheric science, marine science, geology, biology and other domains. Through bibliometric analysis, this study visualized the status of international polar research papers from 2015 to 2017 regarding publishing trends, the main publishing countries, publishing institutions, distribution of research fields, and research topics. This paper can provide a reference to clarify the status of polar investigation and research in China, help scientific research teams identify potential partners and technology owners, and yield enlightening suggestions for future Chinese polar research arrangements and international cooperation.

Key words: polar research, climate change, bibliometric analysis, visualization analysis