<strong>Voyage to Antarctica: </strong>Tourism in Antarctica is increasing, but how much of an impact is this having on the white continent? (Photos by James Draven).
Voyage to Antarctica: Tourism in Antarctica is increasing, but how much of an impact is this having on the white continent? (Photos by James Draven).
James Draven
<strong>Rise in tourism: </strong>Vessels registered with the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) brought in around 38,500 visitors in the 2015/2016 season -- an increase of nearly 10,000 over the past decade.
Rise in tourism: Vessels registered with the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) brought in around 38,500 visitors in the 2015/2016 season -- an increase of nearly 10,000 over the past decade.
James Draven
<strong>Fossil fuels:</strong> "Increasing tourism in Antarctica is something we need to be mindful of, with all these ships burning fossil fuels," says John Durban, a British killer-whale researcher from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Fossil fuels: "Increasing tourism in Antarctica is something we need to be mindful of, with all these ships burning fossil fuels," says John Durban, a British killer-whale researcher from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
James Draven
<strong>Environmental threats:</strong> "There are a number of threats down here, ranging from the small-scale disturbance from tour ships to large-scale climate change," adds Durban.
Environmental threats: "There are a number of threats down here, ranging from the small-scale disturbance from tour ships to large-scale climate change," adds Durban.
James Draven
<strong>Benefits:</strong> However, polar tours help to fund scientific expeditions and also increase climate change awareness and create wildlife ambassadors, explains Durban.
Benefits: However, polar tours help to fund scientific expeditions and also increase climate change awareness and create wildlife ambassadors, explains Durban.
James Draven
<strong>The Anthropocene: </strong>Some scientists have coined the term Anthropocene to describe the modern era -- an epoch where human activity, rather than nature, is the major influence on the Earth's physical and ecological systems.
The Anthropocene: Some scientists have coined the term Anthropocene to describe the modern era -- an epoch where human activity, rather than nature, is the major influence on the Earth's physical and ecological systems.
James Draven
<strong>Killer whales: </strong>Type B1 killer whales feed almost exclusively on Weddell seals, which they hunt by washing them off floating chunks of pack ice.
Killer whales: Type B1 killer whales feed almost exclusively on Weddell seals, which they hunt by washing them off floating chunks of pack ice.
James Draven
<strong>Weddell seals:</strong> Less ice means it's more difficult for the killer whales to reach their prey.
Weddell seals: Less ice means it's more difficult for the killer whales to reach their prey.
James Draven
<strong>Chinstrap penguins: </strong>The tightly packed feathers of chinstrap penguins provide them with a waterproof coat when swimming in the freezing waters of the Antarctic.
Chinstrap penguins: The tightly packed feathers of chinstrap penguins provide them with a waterproof coat when swimming in the freezing waters of the Antarctic.
James Draven
<strong>Krill:</strong> The main source of food for chinstrap and Adélie penguins is krill which feeds off the algae growing under the sea ice. Therefore melting ice means less available food.
Krill: The main source of food for chinstrap and Adélie penguins is krill which feeds off the algae growing under the sea ice. Therefore melting ice means less available food.
James Draven
<strong>Sea ice: </strong>A <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Ffeature%2Fgoddard%2F2017%2Fsea-ice-extent-sinks-to-record-lows-at-both-poles" target="_blank" target="_blank">NASA report</a> from March 2017 found less sea ice surrounding the Antarctic continent than at any stage since reliable records began back in 1979.
Sea ice: A NASA report from March 2017 found less sea ice surrounding the Antarctic continent than at any stage since reliable records began back in 1979.
James Draven
<strong>Gentoo penguins:</strong> While some penguin populations in the Antarctic have declined, the number of Gentoo penguins has <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.scientificamerican.com%2Farticle%2Fgentoo-penguins-thrive-while-adelies-and-chinstraps-falter-in-a-climate-changed-world%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">increased</a>.
Gentoo penguins: While some penguin populations in the Antarctic have declined, the number of Gentoo penguins has increased.
James Draven
<strong>Flexible diet: </strong>Gentoo penguins are less dependent on krill than chinstraps or Adélies, which could explain why they are coping well in the current climate.
Flexible diet: Gentoo penguins are less dependent on krill than chinstraps or Adélies, which could explain why they are coping well in the current climate.
James Draven
<strong>How to spot them: </strong>Gentoo penguins are recognizable by the white stripe that stretches around the top of their head, and their orange-red bills.
How to spot them: Gentoo penguins are recognizable by the white stripe that stretches around the top of their head, and their orange-red bills.
James Draven
<strong>Leopard seal: </strong>The leopard seal is one of the white continent's top predators. This solitary creature hunts penguins, fish and -- occasionally -- young southern elephant seals.
Leopard seal: The leopard seal is one of the white continent's top predators. This solitary creature hunts penguins, fish and -- occasionally -- young southern elephant seals.
James Draven