Untouched Antarctica: mapping a finite and diminishing environmental resource
Abstract Globally, areas categorically known to be free of human visitation are rare, but still exist in Antarctica. Such areas may be among the most pristine locations remaining on Earth and, therefore, be valuable as baselines for future comparisons with localities impacted by human activities, an...
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s095410201100037x https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S095410201100037X |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s095410201100037x 2024-09-15T17:40:57+00:00 Untouched Antarctica: mapping a finite and diminishing environmental resource Hughes, Kevin A. Fretwell, Peter Rae, Joanna Holmes, Keith Fleming, Andrew 2011 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s095410201100037x https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S095410201100037X en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Antarctic Science volume 23, issue 6, page 537-548 ISSN 0954-1020 1365-2079 journal-article 2011 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s095410201100037x 2024-08-21T04:04:43Z Abstract Globally, areas categorically known to be free of human visitation are rare, but still exist in Antarctica. Such areas may be among the most pristine locations remaining on Earth and, therefore, be valuable as baselines for future comparisons with localities impacted by human activities, and as sites preserved for scientific research using increasingly sophisticated future technologies. Nevertheless, unvisited areas are becoming increasingly rare as the human footprint expands in Antarctica. Therefore, an understanding of historical and contemporary levels of visitation at locations across Antarctica is essential to a) estimate likely cumulative environmental impact, b) identify regions that may have been impacted by non-native species introductions, and c) inform the future designation of protected areas under the Antarctic Treaty System. Currently, records of Antarctic tourist visits exist, but little detailed information is readily available on the spatial and temporal distribution of national governmental programme activities in Antarctica. Here we describe methods to fulfil this need. Using information within field reports and archive and science databases pertaining to the activities of the United Kingdom as an illustration, we describe the history and trends in its operational footprint in the Antarctic Peninsula since c . 1944. Based on this illustration, we suggest that these methodologies could be applied productively more generally. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctic Science Antarctica Cambridge University Press Antarctic Science 23 6 537 548 |
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Open Polar |
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Cambridge University Press |
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crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract Globally, areas categorically known to be free of human visitation are rare, but still exist in Antarctica. Such areas may be among the most pristine locations remaining on Earth and, therefore, be valuable as baselines for future comparisons with localities impacted by human activities, and as sites preserved for scientific research using increasingly sophisticated future technologies. Nevertheless, unvisited areas are becoming increasingly rare as the human footprint expands in Antarctica. Therefore, an understanding of historical and contemporary levels of visitation at locations across Antarctica is essential to a) estimate likely cumulative environmental impact, b) identify regions that may have been impacted by non-native species introductions, and c) inform the future designation of protected areas under the Antarctic Treaty System. Currently, records of Antarctic tourist visits exist, but little detailed information is readily available on the spatial and temporal distribution of national governmental programme activities in Antarctica. Here we describe methods to fulfil this need. Using information within field reports and archive and science databases pertaining to the activities of the United Kingdom as an illustration, we describe the history and trends in its operational footprint in the Antarctic Peninsula since c . 1944. Based on this illustration, we suggest that these methodologies could be applied productively more generally. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Hughes, Kevin A. Fretwell, Peter Rae, Joanna Holmes, Keith Fleming, Andrew |
spellingShingle |
Hughes, Kevin A. Fretwell, Peter Rae, Joanna Holmes, Keith Fleming, Andrew Untouched Antarctica: mapping a finite and diminishing environmental resource |
author_facet |
Hughes, Kevin A. Fretwell, Peter Rae, Joanna Holmes, Keith Fleming, Andrew |
author_sort |
Hughes, Kevin A. |
title |
Untouched Antarctica: mapping a finite and diminishing environmental resource |
title_short |
Untouched Antarctica: mapping a finite and diminishing environmental resource |
title_full |
Untouched Antarctica: mapping a finite and diminishing environmental resource |
title_fullStr |
Untouched Antarctica: mapping a finite and diminishing environmental resource |
title_full_unstemmed |
Untouched Antarctica: mapping a finite and diminishing environmental resource |
title_sort |
untouched antarctica: mapping a finite and diminishing environmental resource |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s095410201100037x https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S095410201100037X |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctic Science Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctic Science Antarctica |
op_source |
Antarctic Science volume 23, issue 6, page 537-548 ISSN 0954-1020 1365-2079 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s095410201100037x |
container_title |
Antarctic Science |
container_volume |
23 |
container_issue |
6 |
container_start_page |
537 |
op_container_end_page |
548 |
_version_ |
1810487004159279104 |