Scientists of the Institute for Environmental Management of the NAS of Belarus (Head of the Laboratory of Transboundary Pollution, Doctor of Technics, Professor Sergey Kakareka and Lead Researcher Svetlana Salivonchik) for the first time assessed the cumulative impact of scientific stations on the atmospheric air of the Larsemann Hills — one of the most developed oases of East Antarctica.
The research conducted by Belarusian scientists made it possible to assess the effects on atmospheric air from the operation of all scientific stations located in the Larsemann Hills for the entire period of development of the oasis, starting with the construction of the first scientific station in 1986. Modeling the dispersion of pollutants using the AERMOD model made it possible to obtain hourly, daily and annual maximum concentrations of the main pollutants in the surface air, as well as streams of dry deposition of fine particles and black carbon. Calculations of the level of black carbon deposits made it possible to estimate the accelerated melting of snow caused by this deposition.
The conducted research can be considered as the first experience in assessing the cumulative effects on the atmosphere of the entire set of stations located in a certain Antarctic oasis, and can be useful in developing methodologies for assessing cumulative effects to fulfill obligations under the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.
The Larsemann Hills are one of the most developed oases in East Antarctica. Currently, there are three year-round scientific stations and one seasonal base. Intense activity began with the construction in 1986 of the Australian Low Station in East Broknes, later transferred to Romania. Progress (Russian Federation) and Zhongshan (China) stations were opened in 1988–1989; Bharati Station (India) was founded in 2012. The importance of quantifying the impact on this area is reinforced by the presence of a Specially Protected Antarctic Area here.
Currently, there are about 70 year-round and seasonal Antarctic stations in Antarctica from 29 countries, where about a thousand people live in winter and 5–5.5 thousand in summer. Human impact on the natural environment of Antarctica may seem insignificant in absolute terms compared to levels in other, more populated areas of the Earth; however, given the extreme sensitivity and vulnerability of Antarctic natural systems, its levels may exceed thresholds.
The results of the research are published in the authoritative scientific journal Polar Science*.
* Sergey Kakareka, Sviatlana Salivonchyk. Assessment of the human footprint in Antarctica: A case study
Larsemann Hills // Polar Science. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polar.2024.101048.