Tourism and scientific research threaten Antarctic ecosystems

Antarctica - Earth's last wilderness - is under increasing pressure from humans.

An international study published in the journal Nature Sustainability warns that booming tourism and the expansion of research stations are fueling pollution, accelerating ice melt and threatening ecosystems already fragile in the face of climate change.

According to the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO), the number of visitors to the continent has increased from 8,000 per year in the 1990s to more than 124,000 in the 2023-2024 season and could reach 450,000 by 2034.

Each tourist emits an average of 5.44 tonnes of CO2, disrupting wildlife, encroaching on vegetation and accelerating ice melt.

More worrying is the phenomenon of black carbon - a material produced during the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels in ship engines, aircraft and diesel generators.

This is the main factor that makes snow dark, reduces its ability to reflect light, promotes heat absorption and melts at an unprecedented rate.

One tourist can contribute to melting about 100 tons of snow, while scientific research trips, which use heavy vehicles and set up camps for long periods, can have 10 times the impact of a single tourist, said Raul Cordero, a member of the research team.

Specifically, after four years of surveying a 2,000km journey across Antarctica to assess the level of pollution, the research team discovered that in areas with human activity, the concentration of toxic metals such as nickel, copper and lead had increased 10 times compared to four decades ago.

In response to this alarming situation, the Antarctic Treaty was enacted to ban the use of polluting fuels such as heavy fuel oil. Many cruise companies have experimented with hybrid and electric ships.

In addition, IAATO deploys traffic diversion to avoid congestion and issues strict regulations during the process of approaching and observing wildlife.

Scientists emphasize that only a drastic reduction in fossil fuels and a switch to renewable energy can save the "White Continent"./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/du-lich-va-nghien-cuu-khoa-hoc-de-doa-he-sinh-thai-nam-cuc-post1057811.vnp