Antarctica Flashcards
What are the 4 main threats to Antarctica?
-Fishing and whaling
-Climate change
-Mining and the search for mineral resources
-Scientific research and tourism
When did whaling start in the Atlantic?
It started in the North Atlantic between 1904-1965.
Why did whaling move to the Southern Ocean (Antarctic Ocean)?
Because the number of wales in the Atlantic had been significantly reduced.
What does IWC stand for?
International whaling commission
When was the IWC established?
1946
What did the IWC establish in 1994?
The SOUTHERN OCEAN WHALE SANCTUARY, an area of 50 million km2.
How does Japan get around the ban on whaling?
They claim their whaling is for scientific research.
Why are krill so important in the Antarctic ecosystem?
Krill are at the bottom of the food web meaning that most other species rely on them.
Why are krill over fished in the Southern Ocean?
For their high protein content and and omega-3 in east Asia.
What issue do fishing ships cause?
They dump waste and pollute marine habitats.
How much has the air temperature increased by in Antarctica in the last 50 yrs?
3 degrees C
Which antarctic ice sheet has thinned significantly due to increased temperatures?
The west Antarctica ice sheet
What happened to ice shelves due to increased temps?
They collapsed
What has happened to penguin colonies due to climate change?
The distribution of them has experienced changes.
What has increased temps in the water led to?
Some species declining, such as krill, or even dying off due to uninhabitable conditions?
What does melting of ice lead to on land?
An increase in colonisation by plants
What is Ocean acidification caused by?
Increased CO2 in the atmosphere
What can ocean acidification cause?
Unprotected shells and the skeletons of soft marine organisms become corroded.
What originally banned mining in Antarctica?
The antarctic treaty
What will future demand for minerals cause?
It will put pressure on the ban on mining in Antarctica.
Why is Antarctica a target for mining?
There is an abundance of mineral deposits.
What did some countries do in the 80s involving the treaty?
Some members of the treaty attempted to formulate a new convention that allowed the exploration for mineral and gas reserves.
What did some countries do in the 80s involving the treaty?
Some members of the treaty attempted to formulate a new convention that allowed the exploration for mineral and gas reserves.
What does the Madrid Protocol do?
Protects Antarctica from exploration until 2048.
What does disturbances to the environment and wildlife in Antarctica include?
- vehicle exhausts
- construction
- facilities such as fuel storage
- runways
- disposal of waste such as rope, fuel drums and plastics
When is the summer season in Antarctica?
Mid November - March
What is seaborne tourism?
Cruise departing from Argentina or Chile, opportunity to transfer to smaller boast for landing or cruising close to shore.
What is airbone tourism?
Flying from Australia, New Zealand or South America. Scenic flights or in some cases landing.
What are fly-cruises?
Land on King George Island and take a cruise boat.
How have tourist numbers changed over time?
A few hundred specialist visitors in the late 1950s.
Nearly 56,000 (45,000 of which landed) in 2018-19.
What does IAATO stand for?
International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators
Measures to minimise impacts and maintain a sustainable tourism operation:
What are the restrictions on large ships and passengers?
No large ships of more than 500 passengers.
(Most ships are 50-200)
Measures to minimise impacts and maintain a sustainable tourism operation:
What happens to groups when landing?
Groups must be divided into boatloads of about 20 people, each one led by a qualified guide.
Measures to minimise impacts and maintain a sustainable tourism operation:
What are tourists briefed on when ashore?
Tourists are briefed on a code of behaviour when ashore.
(Health and safety, and wildlife observation)
Measures to minimise impacts and maintain a sustainable tourism operation:
What are the limits on visiting sites?
Each site may be visited only every 3-4 days.
(allows for the area to recover)
What does SCAR stand for?
Scientific Comittiee on Antarctic Research.
What 3 things does SCAR monitor?
Resilience
Adaptation
Mitigation
What is resilience in the context of Antarctica?
The ability to RECOVER from ‘shock’ events.
E.g. Sealing, whaling and penguin hunting almost pushed the species to extinction in the past.
Many species recovered and in some cases even thrived such as the king penguin.
What is adaptation in the context of Antarctica?
The ability of an ecosystem to RETURN TO EQUILIBRIUM is also linked to the ADAPTATION of species to CHANGING CONDITIONS.
E.g. climate change
What is mitigation in the context of Antarctica?
INTERVENTION by humans to ELIMINATE or REDUCE IMPACTS of threats.
Antarctica requires governance of continental land mass with global agreements.
What does AT stand for?
Antarctic treaty.
When and where was the Antarctic treaty signed and when did it come into force?
Signed in Washington in 1959 and came into force in June 1961.
How many countries was the treaty originally ratified by? (signed by). How many countries have since signed as of 2018?
12 nations originally
2018 = 53 nations
What does the Antarctic treaty do?
- Prevents military use of Antarctica
- Prevents territorial claims in Antarctica
- Makes Antarctica a nuclear free zone - no sorting waste/tests
- Promotes international scientific co-operation
What is the treaty a good example of?
It is one of the best examples of global co-operation.
How can the treaty be modified?
It may be modified but requires unanimous agreement.
When was the Madrid Protocol established?
1991
What does the Madrid Protocol do?
Prohibits mining or mineral resource exploration including exploration of the continental shelf.
What does the Madrid protocol require is done with waste?
All waste must be returned to its country of origin wherever possible.
What does the Madrid protocol designate Antarctica as?
A ‘natural reserve devoted to peace and science’.
When is the next review on the Madrid Protocol?
2048
How can the Madrid Protocol be modified?
If all party’s agree or in the review in 2048
What does ASOC stand for?
Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition
What is ASOC?
A coalition of over 20 NGOs interested in the protection of the Antarctic environment.
E.g. Greenpeace and WWF
What is ASOCs significance at Antarctic governance meetings?
It is the NGO with official status at the Antarctic governance meetings?
ASOC is the only NGO group that dedicates all of its time to ____ and _____.
Antarctica and the Southern Ocean
What does ASOC provide co-ordination between?
Provides co-ordination between NGOs for shared positions on Antarctic conservation issues.
What do ASOC members participate in?
A wide range of activities in a wide range of activities and campaigns related to Antarctic environmental protection.
E.g. 1987-1991 greanpeace established NGO base, drew attention to need to protect Antarctica from oil and gas exploitation.
