The White Continent is Melting
Why is Antarctica at the center of climate change discussions
I recently returned from Antarctica, which was a transcendent experience. The education I received on the ship and while exploring Antarctica Peninsula has been supplemented by the reading I have done since my return several weeks ago. The first question that many people who have not journeyed to this 5th largest continent might ask is, “Aside from getting cold, “what’s the point of going there?”
Why does it matter what happens in Antarctica
Antarctica is mostly water in a non-liquid state with only two percent of the landmass visible. If Antarctica, Greenland and all glaciers around the world were to melt, the ocean would rise over 270 feet. The geography of the world would change significantly.
Mark Terry released The Antarctica Challenge: A Global Warning in 2009. The documentary by Polar Cap Production focuses on Antarctica and its vital role in helping us understand climate change including:
- The geological and atmospheric history of the planet using scientific research of ice cores from Antarctica
- Changes in animal behavior impacting future generations
- Plant life and why the driest continent has new growth
- Near extinction of species due to climate change impacts
A Continent Like No Other
Antarctica is Earth’s largest desert with an annual precipitation of 6.5”. The White Continent is famous for its harsh climate where temperatures can reach -94 Celsius in the Eastern Antarctic Plateau. It is the only body of land that changes shape and size due to the spring and winter melting and freezing conditions.
No countries. No ruling nations. No native inhabitants.
The Antarctic Treaty, signed by 12 member nations in 1961, serves as a framework for global cooperation. It promotes sharing scientific research, and bans military activity and industrial pursuits. There are a few countries which have indicated they have a territorial claim, but these are not universally recognized.
Antarctica is surrounded by the Southern Ocean, bringing together the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, which feed into the Circumpolar Current. One system that can transport plastic and other refuse through ocean currents anywhere in the world. Microplastics have been found in her waters and animal life that feed in the Southern Ocean.
Future of Wildlife
There are several treaties governing Antarctica, but none create a comprehensive plan to protect the wildlife. Additionally, climate change threatens their survival. Overfishing of krill, the primary food source of wildlife, creates food scarcity and competition among varying species. Phytoplankton production, what krill feeds on, is impacted by the thawing of ice sheets and warmer temperatures.
The hole in the ozone layer (greater than the size of North America) is causing weather pattern changes including rain and more snowfall. The stability of Antarctica’s wildlife, plant life, and geography depend on the dryness. Slight changes to this desert are impacting breeding patterns, ability of eggs to hatch, newborns to survive, and brooding parents to adapt. Unexpected snowfall covers penguins while they sit on nests. They remain, unmoving, tipping their beak up until they are completely covered and die atop their unborn chicks.
Every March, penguins and seals molt. Rain can be life threatening because animals are left without a waterproof coat during part of the molting season. If they get wet, they can freeze to death where they stand or lie.
In this article by Melissa Dick, they highlight Adélie penguins’ challenges for survival due to the melting ice shelves. Adélie and Emperor penguins are native to Antarctica; they never migrate to other parts of the world. They face extinction if climate change continues to impact their territory with increasing precipitation, the warming of Earth’s atmosphere, water, and land, and overfishing.
Tourism
Although tourism began in the 1950’s with Argentina and Chile both offering excursions for hundreds of passengers each spring and summer, it was not regulated until the founding of the International Antarctica Association of Tourism Operators (IAATO) in 1991. As a self-regulating body, participants adhere to an honor system designed to protect plant and animal life.
Responsible operators follow safety procedures including educating passengers on the guidelines:
- Vessel speeds to avoid injury to whales
- Biosecurity measures to avoid spreading diseases
- Briefings and marked trails for landings
- No more than 100 passengers on land at a time
- Giving right of way and keeping a safe distance from animals
As yet, there are no guidelines that restrict the number of tourists or ships allowed to cross into Antarctica’s waters. IUCN Organization makes a strong argument as to why tourism needs to be regulated.
Antarctica’s tourism has grown at a rate of five times faster than the global tourism industry. It is estimated that approximately 1% of the world’s population (78,000,000) has traveled to Antarctica.
Not all companies or passengers embrace a strictly conservationist approach. I have seen videos where tourists attempt to touch the wildlife without thinking of the disease they may transmit. If you plan to travel to Antarctica, be a steward of nature and research tour operators to verify that they are IAATO members and compliant.
Is there hope?
It is impossible to expect agreements and voluntary compliance will fully protect the continent and its habitat; however, alliances are making inroads in conservation. For example, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) was instrumental in protecting 600,000 square miles (twice the size of Texas) in the Ross Sea from harmful human activity.
Innovations focused on climate protection and environmental causes are creating positive impacts.
- Hookpod is one of the projects supported by Ocean Health Fund — Planeterra. Understanding all animals play a role in biodiversity, avoiding bycatch of birds helps to reduce unnecessary loss of seabirds caught in nets. Fishermen are happy with the hookpod because it is reusable and helps them avoid unwanted bycatches.
- Research in Antarctica is driving climate change policies with a focus on reducing harmful emissions globally. This report produced by US research team members includes details on a study to slow the warming on the Antarctica Peninsula.
- The German research center focused on sustainable food sourcing as part of green week activities in 2017 by converting a storage container into a greenhouse.
- Marine Sanctuary Organization works to improve ocean environments necessary for whales and other marine life. This work directly contributes to carbon reduction because 31% of carbon capture happens in the ocean.
It’s about everyone
These are but a few examples that help demonstrate how political policy, ingenuity, organizations that engage citizen support, and global collaboration yield positive results that help protect Earth’s habitat from ocean acidification, rising water levels, and animal extinctions.
Antarctica ice cores with millions of years of atmospheric, geological, and glacial history help scientists map expected changes on Earth to forecast the impact of climate change timelines if we do not change our course, moving away from fossil fuels.
One of our biggest challenges to course correction is social media. There are positive influencers, such as Marcelo Flores who is a scientist and works in both Antarctica and the Arctic and Bertie Gregory who is a wildlife filmmaker. They show the beauty of Antarctica and inspire people to protect the wildlife. Unfortunately, social media is full of posts that depict glamorous locations with budget prices. Scrolling, you get a sense that everyone is “living their best life,” which results in unchecked tourism.
Those of us who are avid travelers have an obligation to keep this in mind and see how to promote responsible tourism, for ourselves and others, especially those prone to “tick the box” travel itineraries, such as visiting the 7th continent. Start asking, “What’s your reason for traveling to (name the destination)?” It may make people pause and think about it a bit more.
For Earth Month, I will write a series of pieces about my experience in Antarctica.
Thank you Rob for editing! Thank you for reading my essay.
