Environmental management is a crucial part of all Swedish activities in Antarctica. In co-operation with Finland and Norway, a Nordic Environmental Handbook/Antarctic Operations has been developed. The handbook covers all different parts of environmental management, such as waste management plan, oil spill contingency plan, chemical spill contingency plan (not finished yet), area management plans, guidelines for the use of helicopters and small aircraft, requirements on vessels to be used in Swedish (Nordic) expeditions, etc.

One important part is environmental impact assessments, and an environmental impact assessments-process was performed prior to the expedition. An Environmental Monitoring project is undertaken since 1991/92, in order to study the influence of human activities in the area (see below).

Sweden has, furthermore, put a lot of effort in using environmentally friendly energy sources, and Wasa station is mainly driven by solar energy. As an extra resource there are two generators driven by liquefied gas (propane), and two diesel generators used only as a back-up system.

Environmental monitoring

In order to continuously check if, and if so how, Swedish activities in Antarctica will cause effects on the environment, an environmental monitoring project was initiated in the season 1991/92. In this project the following issues are/have been considered:

  • Snow samples are taken in a number of sampling locations close to Wasa, for analysis of chemical compounds
  • Occurrence and abundance of lichens and mosses are studied in a number of transects in the areas of Wasa and Svea
  • Occurrence and abundance of bird species are studied in the areas of Wasa and Svea
  • Snow coverage is studied via aerial photography around Wasa
  • Soil samples are taken for analysis of microfauna and chemical compounds

During SWEDARP 1999/2000 the project concentrated on soil and snow sampling. The soil sampling was performed in certain areas, as a pilot study for a more comprehensive study that will be undertaken during SWEDARP 2001/02. The samples will be analysed for chemical compounds, such as total organic content, metals (cadmium, led, copper, mercury, etc.), petroleum hydrocarbons, PAH, etc. This season the sampling was concentrated around the fuel station, the generator house and the station house. Depending on the results from the analysis, the sampling area will be extended to a larger area next time.

The snow sampling was a continuation of a project that started 1991/92. The snow will be analysed for chemical compounds in order to study possible exhausts from Wasa station, vehicles, etc.

No analyses have been done yet from the season 1999/2000.

In short, the following is valid for Swedish activities in Antarctica:

  • All Swedish nationals need a permit for a visit to Antarctica
  • All Swedish nationals participating in Swedish Antarctic expeditions have to undergo a course in environmental management prior to the expedition
  • In principle, everything that is brought to Antarctica is taken back out again
  • All waste is sorted and taken out from Antarctica. Only normal waste water is allowed the be let out into a part of the ice that will reach the sea in the future
  • All fuel spills are taken care of