Antarctica (1) Flashcards
What are the main threats to Antarctica?
Whaling/fishing
Tourism
Resource extraction
Climate Change
Why is climate change a threat to Antarctica?
Climate change will lead to the melting of the ice in Antarctica which will endanger all land species in the area. This will inturn disrupt the food change and lead to the deaths of many species
Why is tourism a threat to Antarctica?
- Tourism leads to disturbing the natural environment
- Tourism leads to pollution and the presence of plastics
- Increasing tourism will lead to increasing damage
Why is resource extraction a threat to Antarctica?
- Antarctica has a large amount of natural resources that many countries would want access to
- Extraction of these materials would be bad for Antarctica as they would lead to destruction of the environment and pollution
Why is fishing a threat to Antarctica?
- Overfishing of certain populations is disturbing the food chain
- Fishing of whales is detrimental to their populations
- Fish caught along with those permitted to be caught may be endangered
- Whaling is done under “scientific means” which allows it to happen
Name some of the NGOs in protecting Antarctica
ASOC, SCAR, Green Peace, IAATO, IWC
What were ASOCs main aims for Antarctica?
- Conclude negitiations of the world’s first ‘ecosystem as a whole’ treaty on fishing.
- Prevent oil, gas and minerals exploitation by blocking ratification fo the proposed Minerals Convection.
- To open up the ATS to include participation by NGOs and specialist international bodies such as the International Council for Science (ICSU).
What are ASOCs current focuses for Antarctica?
- Negotiating a legally binding Polar Code covering all vessels operating in the Southern Ocean.
- Establishing a network of marine reserves, including Marine Protected Area status for the Ross Sea.
- Managing Southern Ocean fisheries, including Krill sustainability.
- Regulating Antarctic tourism and biological prospecting.
- Strengthening the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary
- Mitigating the impacts of climate change.
- Monitoring implantation of the Madrid Protocol.
What is the role of NGOs in Antarctica?
- The role of NGOs in monitoring threats and enhancing protection of Antarctica- ASOC, SCAR, Green Peace, IAATO, IWC
- Analysis and assessment of the geographical consequences of global governance for citizens and places in Antarctica and elsewhere to specifically consider how global governance underlies and impacts on students’ and other people’s lives across the globe.
INFO on Greenpeace
Antarctica is the only continent that remains relatively untouched by human interference; it’s arguably the only pristine wilderness left on Earth. Scientists can use this unique environment to gain insight into pollution and climate change in a way that cannot be achieved elsewhere.
Yet in the early 1980s, commercial exploitation threatened this delicate ecosystem. There is strong evidence for the existence of oil and mineral deposits under the ice, meaning governments and companies were lining up to start prospecting. This is frightening because the arctic is particularly susceptible to oil spills and other types of pollution. A single spill could devastate the area.
Greenpeace successes in Antarctica?
Greenpeace made headlines when 15 protesters blocked the French from building an airstrip at Dumont D’Urville. The construction work was controversial because it involved dynamiting habitats of nesting penguins. French scientists even admitted an airstrip violated terms of the Antarctic Treaty.
During the protest French construction workers reacted angrily to a Greenpeace demonstration; workers forcibly evicted the protesters and smashed up a hut we had erected. Despite continuing threats of violence, the protesters returned to occupy the landing strip for a second day. The French later abandoned plans to build the airstrip.
The professionalism of our operation gradually earned respect from other Antarctic Treaty Nations. After seven years of campaigning, Greenpeace went from being perceived as an almost despised outsider in Antarctic Treaty affairs to being a respected player in negotiations for the future of the continent.
Where is Antarctica?
Antarctica is in the Earths South Pole
It is situated south of 60°S latitude parallel
It is 14 million km²
What is Antarctica’s climate like
Antarctica is the coldest continent on Earth
The average temperature in the interior throughout the year is about -57°C
There is a minimum temperature being -90°C during the winter season
The coast is warmer, and temperatures can reach a maximum of between -2°C and 8°C during the summer.
What is Antarctica’s Wildlife like?
Animals such as penguins, whales’ seals, albatrosses, other seabirds are the most common along with
Animals such as krill support life in Antarctica and begin the food chain
There are around 7,500 animal species in the Antarctic
Why is Antarctica a global common?
It is a global common as it doesn’t directly fall under any country’s jurisdiction so no country has a right to it meaning it must be managed by world governments and is therefore a common
What is a global common?
Global commons is a term typically used to describe international, supranational, and global resource domains in which common-pool resources are found. Global commons include the earth’s shared natural resources, such as the high oceans, the atmosphere and outer space and the Antarctic in particular.
Why is Antarctica such a unique environment?
There is very little human Impact unlike the rest of the world and people are trying to maintain
The ice acts as a time machine and allows scientist to look at the past climates and composition of the atmosphere
Antarctica’s geography and climate means it gets a special kind of wind called katabatics.
Some of the highest wind speeds in history have been recorded on the southern continent – 300km per hour
These are undulating waves in the frozen surface which are low but incredibly long. The result is that, from above, parts of Antarctica seem to have a striped pattern. The interesting thing about these dunes is that they’re nearly imperceptible from land
Define resilience (ecological)
The amount of disturbance that an ecosystem can withstand without changing processes or structures.
Define Adaption
Alteration or adjustment of an organism or system to allow it to survive better in a changing environment.
Define Mitigation
Strategies to reduce the impact of detrimental impacts to a process.
What is ablation?
The opposite of accumulation, refers to all processes that remove snow, ice and water from the glacier or snowfield
What is a nunatack?
An exposed, rocky element of a ridge, mountain or peak not covered by snow or ice within or at the edge of an ice field or glacier. Also know as glacial islands
What is the Antarctic convergence zone?
A natural boundary separating two distinct hydrological regions/ areas of distinct climate
Why do Antarctic waters freeze at such low temperatures?
Because they are so salty
When was the Antarctic Treaty created?
1959
How many countries have now signed the treaty?
46
What are the main intentions of the Antarctic treaty?
Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only
Antarctica should be a site of scientific investigation
No nation would be obligated to surrender its claim, and no new claim could be made
What does the environmental protocol of the treaty state?
Commits the parties to comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment
Designates Antarctica as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science
Bans all commercial mineral resource activity
Requires assessment of impacts of any activities
When will the environmental protocol be revised?
2048
How many permanent scientific bases exist on Antarctica?
40
Where have coal seams been discovered?
Along the coastline and in the mountains
How many barrels of oil are estimated to be in the Weddel and Ross seas?
50 billion
What is the biggest species of concern in Antarctic fisheries?
Krill
