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Abstract

Ice-free ground surfaces in the Australian Antarctic Territory are sensitive to
damage by artificial disturbance. Natural processes appear generally inadequate to heal the
resulting scars over human time scales and substantial ongoing environmental impacts may
accrue where melting of subsurface permafrost is triggered. Studies of some rehabilitation
projects at sites where significant ground disturbance had been caused during geoscientific
research indicate that although specific site conditions are critical to the approach taken,
environmental harm can be reduced provided maximum advantage is taken of the opportunities
to minimise and manage impact at each of the project design, environmental review, site
selection, operational and rehabilitation phases. These sites provide a useful analogy for
larger disturbances caused by infrastructure development.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Kiernan, K and McConnell, A
Keywords:	Antarctica, Vestfold Hills, environmental impact, geoenvironment, geoconservation, land rehabilitation.
Journal or Publication Title:	Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales
ISSN:	0370-047X
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

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