Worldwide aviation connections with Antarctica: examining global linkages and their roles in scientific expeditions
Antarctica is a region of immense scientific and geopolitical importance. The study analyzes Antarctic aviation connectivity, combining data on 86 aircraft operating in the region and the global aviation network comprising 80 runways on the Antarctica continent and 4,194 airports across 216 countrie...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Digital Earth |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17538947.2025.2534500 |
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| _version_ | 1849224367702016000 |
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| author | Yaxuan Jin Songtao Ai Zihan Xiao Shoukat Ali Shah Xinde Chu |
| author_facet | Yaxuan Jin Songtao Ai Zihan Xiao Shoukat Ali Shah Xinde Chu |
| author_sort | Yaxuan Jin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Antarctica is a region of immense scientific and geopolitical importance. The study analyzes Antarctic aviation connectivity, combining data on 86 aircraft operating in the region and the global aviation network comprising 80 runways on the Antarctica continent and 4,194 airports across 216 countries, and maps flight trajectories, examines intercontinental and inland routes, and evaluates aviation's role in Antarctic science and logistics, offering insights into optimizing polar aviation systems and managing emerging challenges. The study also examines the aviation network for aircraft operating in Antarctica, analyzes the aviation connections between Antarctica and other continents, and determines the number of visits and activities of Antarctic aircraft at airports worldwide between January 2020 and January 2024. By examining the flight activity during the study period, it identifies four main access routes via South America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Cities such as Calgary, Christchurch, and Punta Arenas exhibit strong ties with Antarctica, with North America having the densest connectivity. It also explores Antarctica’s global connectivity and the impact of COVID-19 on the continent, highlighting the role of aviation connections in the spread and transmission of the virus. The results underscore the need for sustainable and collaborative approaches in future polar research. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-689a8eaf900c400cbe040be17f208059 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1753-8947 1753-8955 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Digital Earth |
| spelling | doaj-art-689a8eaf900c400cbe040be17f2080592025-08-25T11:24:53ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Digital Earth1753-89471753-89552025-08-0118110.1080/17538947.2025.2534500Worldwide aviation connections with Antarctica: examining global linkages and their roles in scientific expeditionsYaxuan Jin0Songtao Ai1Zihan Xiao2Shoukat Ali Shah3Xinde Chu4Chinese Antarctic Center of Surveying and Mapping, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of ChinaChinese Antarctic Center of Surveying and Mapping, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of ChinaChinese Antarctic Center of Surveying and Mapping, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of ChinaChinese Antarctic Center of Surveying and Mapping, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of ChinaChinese Antarctic Center of Surveying and Mapping, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of ChinaAntarctica is a region of immense scientific and geopolitical importance. The study analyzes Antarctic aviation connectivity, combining data on 86 aircraft operating in the region and the global aviation network comprising 80 runways on the Antarctica continent and 4,194 airports across 216 countries, and maps flight trajectories, examines intercontinental and inland routes, and evaluates aviation's role in Antarctic science and logistics, offering insights into optimizing polar aviation systems and managing emerging challenges. The study also examines the aviation network for aircraft operating in Antarctica, analyzes the aviation connections between Antarctica and other continents, and determines the number of visits and activities of Antarctic aircraft at airports worldwide between January 2020 and January 2024. By examining the flight activity during the study period, it identifies four main access routes via South America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Cities such as Calgary, Christchurch, and Punta Arenas exhibit strong ties with Antarctica, with North America having the densest connectivity. It also explores Antarctica’s global connectivity and the impact of COVID-19 on the continent, highlighting the role of aviation connections in the spread and transmission of the virus. The results underscore the need for sustainable and collaborative approaches in future polar research.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17538947.2025.2534500Antarcticaaircraftrunwaysaviation networkairport activityData mining |
| spellingShingle | Yaxuan Jin Songtao Ai Zihan Xiao Shoukat Ali Shah Xinde Chu Worldwide aviation connections with Antarctica: examining global linkages and their roles in scientific expeditions International Journal of Digital Earth Antarctica aircraft runways aviation network airport activity Data mining |
| title | Worldwide aviation connections with Antarctica: examining global linkages and their roles in scientific expeditions |
| title_full | Worldwide aviation connections with Antarctica: examining global linkages and their roles in scientific expeditions |
| title_fullStr | Worldwide aviation connections with Antarctica: examining global linkages and their roles in scientific expeditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Worldwide aviation connections with Antarctica: examining global linkages and their roles in scientific expeditions |
| title_short | Worldwide aviation connections with Antarctica: examining global linkages and their roles in scientific expeditions |
| title_sort | worldwide aviation connections with antarctica examining global linkages and their roles in scientific expeditions |
| topic | Antarctica aircraft runways aviation network airport activity Data mining |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17538947.2025.2534500 |
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