Activity |
Antarctic |
Arctic |
Scientific research |
The cost to keep a scientist in Antarctica is approximately $1 million a year, so competition for research is high
Due to the remoteness and extreme conditions, scientists have to undergo physical and psychological screening before being accepted
Scientists have left rubbish and broken equipment which has polluted the land and sea, damaged habitats and posed a risk to wildlife
Research stations and ships produce chemical and sewage pollution
Huskie dogs were used as companions and transportation but also posed a threat of infecting seals and penguins
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RSS David Attenborough will add to pollution within the Arctic waters
Researchers have dumped rubbish and brought non-native invasive species on their shoes
Research stations and ships produce chemical and sewage pollution
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Indigenous people |
None
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Only take what they need so don’t upset the balance of the ecosystem
Many indigenous people now live in towns and cities (e.g. Anchorage, Canada). These urban areas impact the environment through waste disposal, air and noise pollution from vehicles, and heat from buildings which melts the permafrost
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Whaling |
Despite a ban on whaling, Japan continues to hunt whales and its industry is government subsidise under the guise of scientific research
As with the Arctic, commercial whaling brought many species of whales to the brink of extinction
Whales are very slow breeders so it takes a long time for their population to recover
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Bowhead whale lives all year round and hunted to almost extinction
Whales are still hunted by Iceland and Norway and indigenous people (although this is considered sustainable as they take only what they need) Minke, Fin and Humpback whales remain the main species still hunted in the Arctic waters
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Fishing |
The Arctic waters provide 70% of the world’s white fish catch
Reduced fish populations have knock-on effects on other species in the food chain (i.e. the larger fish and birds that eat them)
Some species are also affected by getting caught in fishing lines and drowning (e.g. albatross)
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Over-fishing threatens many species (e.g. in Antarctica the Patagonian toothfish has been fished to near extinction)
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Mineral extraction |
Not allowed under the Antarctic Treaty of 1994 |
Many countries are increasing their mining activities beneath the tundra
Russia has exploited a large portion of the tundra to extract minerals
The extraction process of metals produces pollution, damaging local ecosystems
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Energy |
Not allowed under the Antarctic Treaty of 1994
However, energy used to heat research stations has led to melting ice and damage to the ice sheets
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The heat from the terminal buildings, worker's homes and transport to and from the oil fields has led to permafrost melt and buildings subsiding
Oil spills are difficult to clean up and can harm habitats and wildlife
Pipelines are used to transport oil and gas but have melted the permafrost below
Pipelines have also disrupted the migration routes of caribou/reindeer herds
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Tourism |
An Antarctic cruise can cost as much as £10,000 and visits are concentrated in the more accessible but highly sensitive areas
Tourists disrupt breeding colonies of penguins and seals
In the summer months, there are queues of cruise liners in Fildes Bay; fuel spills and collisions between vessels and marine life have occurred
In some areas, tourists have walked over delicate mosses and plants, and some historic structures have been damaged by graffiti
There is concern over the introduction of non-native species which could alter food webs, changing the ecosystem irreversibly
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Tourism increases shipping and air travel, leading to water and air pollution
There is also an increased risk of boats grounding, which can cause oil spills
Trampling damages fragile vegetation and erodes the landscape, leaving paths
As decomposition rates are so slow in the cold temperatures, litter and waste disposal damages habitats and threatens wildlife
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