Spatial analysis of potential environmental conflicts in Antarctica at the background of anthropogenic pressure increase and climate change

DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2024-1-30-23-36

View or download the article (Rus)

About the Authors

Tatiana M. Krasovskaya

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Geographical Faculty,
1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119991, Russia,
E-mail: krasovsktex@yandex.ru

Alexander V. Evseev

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Geographical Faculty,
1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119991, Russia,
E-mail: avevseev@yandex.ru

Michail V. Slipenchuk

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Geographical Faculty,
1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119991, Russia,
E-mail: slip@metropol.ru

Stanislav K. Belousov

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Geographical Faculty,
1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119991, Russia,
E-mail: web-town@mail.ru

Abstract

The problem of potential environmental conflicts in Antarctica at the background of anthropogenic impact growth and modern climate warming is considered based on the analysis of thematic publications, statistical and legal materials, and own field experience in the polar latitudes. The legal documents regulating the status of Antarctica as an object of international scientific research are highlighted. The danger of losing this conservation status for Antarctic ecosystems is shown. Modern factors that increase the anthropogenic load on continental ecosystems are considered: an increase of permanent and temporary population due to growth of research stations number and tourism, scientific stations infrastructure development (transport, sewage treatment plants, heat supply, etc.), various manifestations of local pollution and deposition of pollutants as a result. The start of nuclei residential and recreational nature management, which pose a threat to biodiversity, was marked. A potential threat to ecosystems’ preservation is discussed in the case of Antarctica division into national sectors and mining activities starting. Current anthropogenic changes are analyzed at the background of climate warming, which is twice as fast as the global one. Spatial analysis of the observed anthropogenic and climate-related changes creating a cumulative effect was done. A map of territories with possible environmental conflicts of different genesis, based on the received materials was compiled. An attempt to determine the necessary area for the ecological framework in case of the continent’s economic development growth was undertaken, based on the experience of similar research in the Arctic. The permissible area of economic development was estimated at 4.5 %, while the current one was 2 %.

Keywords

Antarctica, ecological conflicts, climate change, nature management

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For citation: Krasovskaya T.M., Evseev A.V., Slipenchuk M.V., Belousov S.K. Spatial analysis of potential environmental conflicts in Antarctica at the background of anthropogenic pressure increase and climate change. InterCarto. InterGIS. Moscow: MSU, Faculty of Geography, 2024. V. 30. Part 1. P. 23–36. DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2024-1-30-23-36 (in Russian)