Spatial and Temporal Scales of Human Disturbance-McMurdo Station, Antarctica

《南极条约环境保护议定书》指出，需要进行定期和有效的监测，以促进评估各项活动对南极环境的影响。 该项目将启动美国南极方案的监测进程，研究南极洲麦默多站内和周围各种扰动的时间和空间尺度。 这将通过建立一个为期三年的观测系统来实现。 该系统旨在确定陆地和海洋生境自然和人为变化的规模。 一系列的系统属性（或变化的指标）在这两个栖息地将测量航空摄影和点数据采样网格在不同的空间尺度相结合。 这项研究将确定变化的空间和时间尺度及其根源、观测系统在记录重要生境特征的相关变化方面的效率以及各种参考或控制地点方法的效用。 将利用现代地理信息系统技术和地统计方法，在协调一致的框架内组织各种数据集。 这项研究将提供基本的科学资料，以制定长期战略，记录和尽量减少科学研究和支助行动对南极资源和价值的影响。

The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty states that regular and effective monitoring are required to facilitate the assessment of the impact of activities on the Antarctic environment. This project will initiate the monitoring process for the United States Antarctic Program with a study of the temporal and spatial scales of various types of disturbances in and around McMurdo Station, Antarctica. This will be accomplished by the establishment of an observational system over a three-year period. The system is designed to determine the scales of natural and anthropogenic change in terrestrial and marine habitats. A series of system attributes (or indicators of change) within these two habitats will be measured by a combination of aerial photography and point-data sampling grids at various spatial scales. The study will determine the spatial and temporal scales of change and its origin, the efficiency of the observing system in documenting relevant changes in important habitat characteristics, and the utility of various approaches to reference or control locations. Modern Geographic Information System techniques and geostatistical methods will be used to organize the diverse datasets within a coherent and coordinated framework. The study will provide fundamental scientific information for developing a long-term strategy to document and minimize the impacts of scientific research and support operations on Antarctic resources and values in the future.