Untouched Antarctica: mapping a finite and diminishing environmental resource
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 site...
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Cambridge University Press
2011
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:16307 2023-05-15T13:45:11+02:00 Untouched Antarctica: mapping a finite and diminishing environmental resource Hughes, Kevin A. Fretwell, Peter Rae, Joanna Holmes, Keith Fleming, Andrew 2011 text http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/16307/ https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/16307/1/-ANS-ANS23_06-S095410201100037Xa.pdf http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8439389 en eng Cambridge University Press https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/16307/1/-ANS-ANS23_06-S095410201100037Xa.pdf Hughes, Kevin A. orcid:0000-0003-2701-726X Fretwell, Peter orcid:0000-0002-1988-5844 Rae, Joanna; Holmes, Keith; Fleming, Andrew orcid:0000-0002-0143-4527 . 2011 Untouched Antarctica: mapping a finite and diminishing environmental resource. Antarctic Science, 23 (6). 537-548. https://doi.org/10.1017/S095410201100037X <https://doi.org/10.1017/S095410201100037X> Ecology and Environment Publication - Article PeerReviewed 2011 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1017/S095410201100037X 2023-02-04T19:30:26Z 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 Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula The Antarctic Antarctic Science 23 6 537 548 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftnerc |
language |
English |
topic |
Ecology and Environment |
spellingShingle |
Ecology and Environment Hughes, Kevin A. Fretwell, Peter Rae, Joanna Holmes, Keith Fleming, Andrew Untouched Antarctica: mapping a finite and diminishing environmental resource |
topic_facet |
Ecology and Environment |
description |
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 |
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 |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/16307/ https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/16307/1/-ANS-ANS23_06-S095410201100037Xa.pdf http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8439389 |
geographic |
Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula The Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula The Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctic Science Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctic Science Antarctica |
op_relation |
https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/16307/1/-ANS-ANS23_06-S095410201100037Xa.pdf Hughes, Kevin A. orcid:0000-0003-2701-726X Fretwell, Peter orcid:0000-0002-1988-5844 Rae, Joanna; Holmes, Keith; Fleming, Andrew orcid:0000-0002-0143-4527 . 2011 Untouched Antarctica: mapping a finite and diminishing environmental resource. Antarctic Science, 23 (6). 537-548. https://doi.org/10.1017/S095410201100037X <https://doi.org/10.1017/S095410201100037X> |
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_ |
1766216041193537536 |