（2025·安徽合肥·三模）Each year, an estimated 53,000 tourists visit Antarctica, and they could each be unintentionally contributing to the melting of 83 tonnes of snow, according to a new study published in Nature Communications.
The culprit is black carbon, created when fossil (化石) fuels and biomass are burnt. Black carbon settles on the snow, causing it to darken in colour. This increases the absorption of heat from the sun and quickens melting.
Due to its remoteness, Antarctica has a low background level of black-carbon pollution compared to other parts of the world. However, the new study indicates that black carbon from Antarctic tourism and research activities has nevertheless had a notable effect on the icy landscape.
The international research team measured black carbon concentrations in snow collected from 28 sites along a 2,000-kilometre stretch of the northern Antarctic Peninsula. The researchers found that black carbon levels were higher near research facilities and landing sites for tourist ships than at more remote regions of the peninsula.
The study estimates that, in heavily impacted areas, black carbon pollution is causing snowpack to decrease by up to 23 millimetres each year. Altogether, an estimated 4.4 megatonnes per year of snow is melting more quickly in the summer due to the impacts of black carbon from tourism alone — translating to 83 tonnes per visitor. Although these figures are striking, the real impact could be more complex than the data suggest.
“It is likely that local emissions (排放) account for most of the black carbon content in samples collected around research facilities and popular shore tourist-landing sites,” the paper states.
Ships, aero planes, helicopters, generators and trucks are known sources of black carbon that can settle on snow. The study authors suggest that tourist cruises (巡航) and fuel-powered equipment at scientific research stations are likely the largest sources of black-carbon pollution in the study area. That’s despite efforts in recent years to reduce the environmental footprint of Antarctic tourism, such as switching to marine diesel (船用柴油) or deep cycle battery power.
“Our results show that more remains to be done to reduce the impacts of tourism and ships in Antarctica,” the authors write.
12．What does the underlined word “culprit” in paragraph 2 mean?
A．Main cause. B．Harmful gas. C．Useful energy. D．Unexpected result.
13．How is black carbon produced in Antarctica?
A．From winds blowing in foreign dust.
B．From volcanic activities under the ice.
C．From natural changes in temperature.
D．From fuel use in tourism and research.
14．What do the figures in paragraph 5 most likely imply?
A．They exactly show each visitor’s carbon footprint.
B．The impact of human activity may be underestimated.
C．They suggest that Antarctica tourism should be banned.
D．The data may overstate the snowpack melting problem.
15．What do the authors think of current environmental efforts in Antarctica?
A．They still show limited effect. B．They paint a rosy picture.
C．They are a drop in the bucket. D．They boost Antarctica tourism.
【答案】12．A 13．D 14．B 15．A
【知识点】环境污染、说明文、碳足迹
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