Week 2 Research Project Writing — Erin Kasiou
This image captures the beauty of the polar landscapes; a climate of extremes, inhabitable only by the unique fauna (and, more scarcely, flora) that are specially equipped to survive its icy terrain. One may, at first glance, view this image with a sense of awe at its vibrant whites and blues, taken aback by the beauty of a totally foreign terrain that very few people will get the opportunity to see in person. These feelings change, however, when this landscape is viewed through the lens of its potential extinction. All environments have faced this threat since humans embarked on the industrialisation of our world, but the polar landscapes especially are disappearing at an alarming rate, such that we may witness the extinction of these environments within our own lifetimes. Evidence of this looming fate can be seen in this photo: the ice is broken into many smaller pieces, forcing the seals to congregate onto what is left of the glacier. As such, it is important to view our planet’s unique landscapes not only with a sense of admiration, but also one of protection, as we realise it is up to us to preserve them as they are pictured.