3.1 Antarctica's physical characteristics and challenges

Question 1

What are the 4 main things to consider when mentioning Antarcticas physical characteristics

Answer 1

The Southern Ocean and wildlife
The East and West Side
The ice coverage
The climate

Question 2

What is the Southern Ocean like around Antarctica

Answer 2

The Ocean extends northward from the continent to reach a 60 south latitude

Question 3

What happens when the Southern ocean reaches 60 south latitude

Answer 3

Cold, Northward flowing currents sink underneath warm, axle currents, otherwise known as the CONVERGENCE ZONE

Question 4

What are some characteristics of the convergence zone

Answer 4

1. 32-48km wide, following eastward
2. Rich upwelled currents - high in marine productivity
3. Natural boundary meaning it separates areas of distinct wildlife, climate and hydrology

Question 5

What is the Antarctic circumpolar current

Answer 5

A smaller, closer current than that in the convergence zone, flowing in the opposite direction. When the currents meet it is called the divergent zone

Question 6

What is the difference between the East and the West ice sheet

Answer 6

The East is larger, thicker and older
The East grows , while the west shrinks

Question 7

How are the East and the West sheet divided

Answer 7

By the Transantarctic mountains of peaks over 4,000m high

Question 8

What is the ice sheet coverage like in Antarctica

Answer 8

97% of the continent is covered in glacial ice, making it the highest average elevated continent at (2300m)

The coastlines are fringed with ice shelves

The few areas not covered are nunataks and dry valleys

Question 9

What is the climate like in Antarctica

Answer 9

Coldest, windiest and driest on earth

Question 10

Give some figures to back up the Antarctic climate

Answer 10

1. Average temp -49 degrees C
2. Average wind speed 50mph
3. Average precipitation 50mm per annum, making it a polar desert

Question 11

What is a nunatak

Answer 11

High mountain peaks , where small areas of rock rise above the ice sheet because of the slope and winds

Question 12

What is a dry valley

Answer 12

Unusual dry landform in areas of high altitude and aridity

Question 13

How do dry valleys form

Answer 13

Dry valleys form next to the Transantarctic mountains

The mountains force air to rise upwards, making it loose moisture, putting areas beneath in a PRECIPITATION SHADOW. This mixed with high wind speeds and little ice flow, means all discharge here evaporates

Question 14

What are the main 3 human factors affecting the Southern Ocean

Answer 14

Sealing
Whaling
Krill fishing

Question 15

What is Sealing and the problems associated

Answer 15

Sealing is killing seals for their fur. It began in the 18th century in South Georgia and by 1800 they were extinct, so they moved operation to South Shetland.

In just 3 years, they had killed over 300,000 seals , endangering them

Question 16

What is whaling and the problems associated

Answer 16

Whaling is the killing of (mainly blue and right) Wales for whalebone and oil. It began in the 19th century, mainly fro the USA, UK, Norway and Japan

In the early 1904,, Norway opened a shop in South Georgia with over 300 people dedicated to selling whale products, but in 1965 they had fished them to near extinction and closed

Question 17

What is the issue with fishing krill

Answer 17

Krill underpin the entire Southern Ocean food web, without them, the ecosystem would face catastrophes.

Due to being such a good protein source, they are now being overfished to sell for £35-£100 supplement pills

Question 18

What are the main 3 human factors affecting Antarctica

Answer 18

Climate change
Mineral and resource extraction
Research and Tourism

Question 19

How is climate change affecting the Western Ice sheet

Answer 19

Here, the Peninsula is extremely sensitive to change. In the last 50 years, air temp has risen 3 C and ocean temp has risen 1 C (both faster than global average)

Question 20

What are the consequences of warming temperatures in Western Antarctica

Answer 20

1. Ice sheet thinned significantly
2. Glaciers and ice shelves broken off
3. Wildlife change - emperor penguin distribution, krill, plant colonisation

Question 21

How is climate change affecting the Eastern Ice sheet

Answer 21

As opposed to the west, the eastern ice sheet has had no significant loss and the sea ice is actually expanding

Question 22

How is global warming causing the East Ice sheet to expand

Answer 22

Increase in global storms means…
1. New top, cool, dense layer of water

2. Reduced salinity, means water can freeze at higher temperatures
3. Breaking ice shelves contribute to sea ice

Question 23

How has the exploration of mineral resources affected Antarctica in the past

Answer 23

It has not effected it, as it is completely banned by the “Antarctic treaty”

Question 24

What are the disadvantages of mineral extraction in Antarctica

Answer 24

1. Ruining our last untouched ecosystem
2. Non-cost effective
3. Difficult and likely to fail

Question 25

Why could mineral extraction be a problem for the future with an example

Answer 25

Growing technology and an increased need for resources means people are trying to exploit it.

In 1988 it was revealed that some members of the treaty secretly formulated “The mineral convention” to try and allow for the exploitation of minerals

Question 26

What is the main human threat to Antarctica

Answer 26

Researchers, despite only have been there for 100 years

Question 27

What are the 3 types of antarctic tourism

Answer 27

1. Camping
2. Shipboard (most common)
3. Overhead

Question 28

What does a general shipboard antarctic tour look like

Answer 28

Usually occurs between November-March, tours usually 3 weeks long around £18,000 per person.

People want to challenge themselves, see wildlife, historical sites and glaciers

Question 29

How do tourists ensure that they do not damage Antarctica

Answer 29

Tours follow the Liblad plan, meaning sites only have 5-20 people at a time, and can only visit every 2-3 days

Tourists are well briefed and respect the rules very well

Question 30

Why do people say that Tourism here is nothing to worry about

Answer 30

1. Well run industry (Liblad plan)
2. Only 5% of 200 landing sites show damage
3. Litter usually caused by scientists
4. Damage to vegetation usually naturally caused
5. Penguins and seals indifferent

Question 31

Why do people say that Tourism here is something to worry about

Answer 31

1. Very fragile ecosystem, footprints in moss can show for decades
2. Tourists season concedes with breeding period, planes are known to disrupt this
3. Installations take up few ice free locations