Industrial metabolism on ice: a case study of industrial materials flows and environmental management alternatives for Scott Base, New Zealand's Antarctic research station

Human activity to support scientific research in the Antarctic environment poses potential threats to Antarctic ecosystems with regard to materials us e and waste generation. To begin to understand the potential environmental impacts, a case study materials flow analysis was carried out for New Zeala nd's Scott Base. In a typical research season (1 July 1997-30 June 1998), S cott Base consumed 308 tonnes of fossil fuels, producing approximately 1000 tonnes of CO2, 26 tonnes of NOx, and measurable quantities of SOx, CO, par ticulates, and trace metals. It required 1482 tonnes of freshwater, which p roduced 1400 tonnes of sewage containing approximately 170 kg of Total Nitr ogen, 25 kg of Total Phosphorous, 750 kg of BOD5, and 1250 kg of suspended solids. It received 217.5 tonnes of bulk cargo; 12 tonnes of burnables were incinerated on site and 40 tonnes of rubbish and cargo were returned to Ne w Zealand. Human industrial residues are accumulating in and around Scott B ase. In response to this material imbalance, management initiatives to impr ove environmental performance are discussed, including the transition to no n-fossil fuel energy sources to reduce air emissions; the use of an integra ted biosystem. to reduce wastewater; and improved building design to reduce solid wastes.