Glaciers have shrunk, the ice on rivers and lakes breaks up earlier than it once did, and plant and animal ranges throughout the world have shifted dramatically.
There's rarely a day that goes by without another headline tied to the impacts of climate change around the world. The effects of the planet's increasing temperatures have been far-reaching and devastating. It's hardly an overstatement to say that climate change is currently the biggest threat to our planet.
Amid all the coverage of this topic, however, one of the most significantly impacted regions of the world has been comparatively neglected, says the Antarctic and Southern Coalition (ASOC).
That region is Antarctica.
The world's southernmost continent is an incredibly fragile environment, one where the land, waters and marine life are increasingly impacted by the planet's warming. Antarctica's western peninsula, in particular, is one of the fastest warming areas on Earth.
Because Antarctica is such a big place, the results of global warming are not materializing uniformly. But in areas where the sea ice is decreasing, there have been measurable impacts on wildlife. The distribution of penguin colonies, for instance, has been altered as sea ice conditions change.
In addition, as National Geographic noted, the warming of the planet is altering "what animals eat, where they rest, how they raise their young, even how they interact" in Antarctica. Mankind and the use of fossil fuels, stated the magazine, is upending the ecological machine that is Antarctica.
Understanding the impacts of climate change on Antarctica has become more important than ever as these changes unfold. It's a matter of critical importance for the world and for the continent itself.
Which is why Antarctica needs more advocates, a goal that can be accomplished through responsible, sustainable travel.
Yes, there continues to be debate and real concern about whether increased visitors will ultimately be good for such a pristine and already fragile part of the world. It's a question that's been plaguing experts for the better part of a decade and rightly so. Reports have been issued warning that increased visitation and tourism wreaks havoc on Antarctica's vulnerable habitat.
However, there's also a case to be made for responsible travel to Antarctica that creates ambassadors who return home understanding the importance of continued conservation and supporting an aggressive path of action in the face climate change.
"Not only does Antarctica offer travelers an adventure like none other with its remote location, untouched landscapes and its bounty of wildlife, but a holiday there is also a tangible way for travelers to understand the impact humans can have on our fragile world," Intrepid Group CEO James Thornton told TravelPulse.
"By seeing Antarctica in person, visitors are more likely to become even stronger supporters of the environment once they make that emotional connection with the destination, which will inspire them to continue to advocate for our planet and educate others on how to travel responsibly and live sustainably after their trip," Thornton added.
More than 100 different nationalities on average per season visit Antarctica, according to the 2017-2018 Key Facts on Tourism report issued by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), an organization that manages the most comprehensive database on human activity in Antarctica.
This statistic would appear to support the possibility that visitors can become ambassadors around the globe, disseminating the critical message about the importance of protecting Antarctica's vast, fragile beauty.
What's more, the reality is that in recent years an increasing number of tourists are opting to visit the White Continent and its harsh yet wildly stunning wilderness. It is the last adventure frontier for intrepid travelers. The total number of visitors during the 2015-2016 travel season was 38,478 (and in 1990, it was just 5,000). But by last year the number of visitors had risen to 44,367, according to IAATO.
Like Thornton, IAATO believes there's some redeeming value in this trend.
In its 2017-2018 Key Facts on Tourism report, IATTO noted that tourism is and should continue to be a driving force in Antarctic conservation, adding that first-hand travel experiences lead to a better understanding of the destination, the need for responsible tourism and ultimately continued protection.
IAATO was created with a mission of advocating and promoting the environmentally responsible travel it speaks of in its reports. The organization's 115 members work together to implement and develop operational procedures, guidelines and membership requirements to fulfill that mission while ensuring that visitors have a safe and enriching wilderness experience.
"The last 25 years have shown that with careful management it is possible for visitors to experience Antarctica without having an adverse impact on the environment," IAATO Executive Director Dr. Kim Crosbie said in a press release issued in 2016.
It's a point that Intrepid's Thornton feels passionate about as well, suggesting that as long as travel to Antarctica is operated as responsibly as possible, with tourist limits adhered to and rigorous sustainable policies in place, a journey to the seventh continent may very well be the best way to educate travelers about its delicate environment.
"Visiting Antarctica in person makes it clear that the world is a small place and that we have an impact on these fragile places even when we are at home," Thornton said, adding: "That's why we all need to do more as individuals and businesses to manage our impact every day."
And perhaps that's the most important message of all.
Go ahead and travel to Antarctica, making sure to tread lightly and respect the environment while you're there. Then return home wiser for your experience, and become not only an advocate for saving Antarctica but for saving the planet as a whole. And do so through both your words and your daily actions.
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