Antarctica is becoming an increasingly popular destination for tourists, with over 74,000 visitors in the 2019/2020 season alone. However, a new study from the Universidad de Santiago de Chile has found that this influx of people is having a detrimental effect on the environment. Specifically, the use of ships, planes, and diesel generators is producing Black Carbon, a fine soot that is causing additional snowmelt. The study found that 83 tonnes of snow are melting each year due to tourism, with Black Carbon being the primary culprit.
Black Carbon is created when fossil fuels are burned, and it is particularly damaging to white surfaces like snow. When it settles on snow, it causes the surface to heat up more quickly, leading to faster melting. In heavily visited areas, this can result in an additional 23 millimetres of snowmelt during the summer months. The study used snow samples from 28 locations across Antarctica, taken between 2016 and 2020, to reach its conclusions. While the amount of Black Carbon in Antarctica is still relatively low compared to other regions, some areas are already experiencing concentrations three to four times higher than others.
The researchers behind the study are calling for a discussion on limiting the number of tourists to Antarctica or reducing the use of fossil fuels in the region. They suggest that the Belgian Princess Elisabeth Research Station, which is powered almost entirely by wind energy, could serve as a model for sustainable tourism in Antarctica. With the number of tourists to Antarctica expected to continue to rise, it is crucial to find ways to mitigate the environmental impact of their visits.
