For the first time, we can measure the human footprint on Antarctica

Mar 11, 2019

Penguins come ashore in Neko Harbour, Antarctica, February 16, 2018. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini SEARCH "ANTARCTICA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC17A253A7B0

People have been living in Antarctica for decades. Image: REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini

Julia Jabour

Leader, Ocean and Antarctic Governance Research Program, University of Tasmania

Shaun Brooks

PhD Candidate, , University of Tasmania

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Antarctica

Figure Building footprint density. Image: Nature Sustainability

Davis Station, one of Australia’s three permanent research outposts in Antartica. Researchers used Google Earth images to map the footprint of human infrastructure across the continent. Image: Shaun Brooks,Author provided

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Adelie penguins need ice-free areas to access the ocean. Image: Shaun Brooks,Author provided

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