Antarctic future technologies.

Abstract

Science in Antarctica has greatly increased our knowledge of climate, the Earth’s history and the human impact on the world’s environments, yet scientific activities in Antarctica are having a direct impact on the immediate environment. Fossil fuels are relied on to run nearly all operations on the continent and activities can have direct impacts to the physical environment. New technologies are providing a means to reduce these impacts in Antarctica and this report aims to showcase some of these. Renewable energies such as wind and solar power; waste management technologies such as a membrane bioreactor and Permeable Reactive Barriers; field science technologies such as the MinION and WindSled; data networking and communicative technologies are all discussed. The chosen technologies highlight the opportunity for National Antarctic Programs to reduce their physical impact, carbon footprint, improve science practices and encourage collaboration in Antarctica.