Antarctica Flashcards
Describe the Antarctic climate (3)
Remarkably windy Remarkably dry (less than 150mm of precipitation per year) Remarkably cold (Rarely above freezing)
Give an example of a species that lives in Antarctica all year
Emperor Penguin or Weddell Seal
What are the 3 main Antarctic ecosystems?
Marine, Land-Based and Fresh water
What does the land based ecosystem comprise of?
Lichen, moss and insects
What has occured already in Antarctica due to climate change?
Glaciers are melting, several ice shelves have collapsed (Larsen)
What does the ozone layer do?
Ozone is a gas that absorbs harmful UV rays from the sun.
What is the effect of the ozone hole?
The ecosystem is disrupted
If all CFC production stopped now, how long would it take for the ozone layer to repair itself?
At least 50 years
When did fishing become established in the southern ocean?
The 1900s
What is the CCAMLR?
The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
What does the CCAMLR do?
It protects the whole southern ocean ecosystem by regulating fishing activity and ensuring fish and krill are left for penguins, whales and seals.
Name the 5 main research areas of scientists in Antarctica
Studying life and how it survives in such an extreme environment
Measuring weather in the upper atmosphere
Monitoring the ozone hole
Monitoring changes in the ice sheets to see how they respond to climate change
Recording changes in Earth’s climate by analysing ice cores.
Where are most Antarctic research stations located?
On the ice free coastal margins of Antarctica. These ecosystems are very fragile, wildlife hotspots
What did research stations use to do with their waste?
Dump it into the sea, polluting it with fuel and toxic waste
Give for reasons why Antarctic resources should be exploited
NICs need more fuel
Prices rising makes exploitation profitable
Technology developments from the Arctic make it possible to mine in Antarctica
Melting ice sheets may expose more minerals, making exploitation cheaper
