Antarctica

Question 1

Antarctica’s area covers how much land?

Answer 1

14 million km squared

Question 2

How much of earths ice and fresh water is stored there?

Answer 2

90% ice
70% fresh water

Question 3

What is the average temperature?

Answer 3

-49°C

Question 4

What does a lack of water, warmth and sunlight mean?

Answer 4

The ecosystem is very fragile, easily damaged and can take a long time to recover

Question 5

What are the four main threats to Antarctica?

Answer 5

Climate Change

Fishing and whaling

Search for minerals

Tourism and research

Question 6

How much had the temp increased by in areas of the west coast?

Answer 6

As much as 3°C in the past five decades (one of the fastest ten rises on earth)

Question 7

What has happened to the ice shelves?

Answer 7

Shelves around the Weddell Sea and Ross Sea have melted and are retreating

Question 8

Why are penguins in danger?

Answer 8

Those adapted to sea ice (Adélie penguins) have declined and there are more that are adapted to open sea conditions (Chinstrap penguins)

Question 9

What is the impact of climate change on Krill?

Answer 9

Krill depend on the environment and the population has declined by roughly 80% since the 1970s as they depend on the ice environment

Question 10

Why is the decline in Krill bad?

Answer 10

As it is the main food source for penguins, whales and seals, their decline would lead to less of these animals as well

Question 11

How has climate change affected sea levels?

Answer 11

Melting ice have caused global sea levels to rise 3mm a year since the 1990s

Question 12

How has overfishing impacted krill?

Answer 12

Over 200,000 tonnes of krill was fished in 2013 and reduced amounts of krill had effects on the food chain

Question 13

How are stocks kept at a sustainable level?

Answer 13

There are legal limits on the amount of fish that can be caught however lots of illegal fishing takes place as it is difficult to monitor

Question 14

When and why has whaling declined?

Answer 14

Since 1982 when regulations were brought in to ban commercial whaling

Question 15

How do some countries get around whaling bans?

Answer 15

Kill whales for ‘scientific’ purposes

Question 16

What is happening to the whale population now?

Answer 16

It is slowly recovering but as whales are slow breeders it will take a lot of time for the population to fully recover

Question 17

What is there believed to be a lot of in Antarctica?

Answer 17

Lots of minerals such as coal and iron in the Transatlantic Mountains as well as large oil reserves under the Southern Ocean

Question 18

Why hasn’t there been any mining yet?

Answer 18

It is currently banned and conditions aren’t favourable as it’s too far to transport any machinery and the landscape and climate would also make it difficult

Question 19

Why might mining become more likely in the future?

Answer 19

Increasing demand for minerals and oil as supplies are depleted elsewhere. This would damage the environment

Question 20

What does tourism do to Antarctica?

Answer 20

Increases shipping and air travel which polluted water and air

Question 21

With more tourism what risk could increase?

Answer 21

Boats grounding or hitting icebergs which can cause fuel spills

Question 22

How may tourists affect Antarctica?

Answer 22

Disturb breeding colonies of birds

Trampling damages vegetation and erodes landscape

Litter and waste disposal damages habitats and wildlife

Question 23

What may happen if non native species are introduced?

Answer 23

Alter food webs and ecosystems

Question 24

What is the Antarctic Treaty?

Answer 24

Was made in 1959 about how to sustainably manage Antarctica’s ecosystem. It is signed by 53 countries.

Question 25

What rules are included in the Antarctic Treaty?

Answer 25

Only used for peaceful reasons - no army bases/weapons

Countries should cooperate on scientific research in Antarctica

Should remain a global common

Question 26

What does the IWC do?

Answer 26

Regulates whaling to make sure the population is at sustainable levels

Question 27

When and where did the IWC set up a whale sanctuary?

Answer 27

In 1994 in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica

Question 28

How are the IWC criticised?

Answer 28

Do not properly monitor the number of whales in the sanctuary

Question 29

What is the Whaling Moratorium?

Answer 29

Set up by the IWC in 1982 banning all commercial whaling around the world

Question 30

How is the moratoriums success measured?

Answer 30

By estimating whale populations based on sightings and modelling

Question 31

What do countries think about the moratorium?

Answer 31

Some (like the US and Australia) believe there should be a better monitoring system but others (like Japan and Norway) say the IWC does not have the authority to monitor

Question 32

Why was ASOC formed?

Answer 32

Formed in 1978 from a group of NGOs concerned that some countries were planning to make it legal to search for oil, gas and minerals

Question 33

What does ASOC do?

Answer 33

Monitors environmental changes and makes sure countries stick to the rules