Antarctica

Question 1

Antarctic treaty

Answer 1

Signed in 1959 by 12 nations
Now there are 53 (2015)
Governs the actions of anyone using Antarctica
Bans activities such as military, nuclear testing and resource exploitation.
Scientists may use Antarctica (ice core analysis, ozone hole discovered, study of biodiversity)

Question 2

Tourism in Antarctica

Answer 2

Permits sustainable tourism
Trips of 10 days by boat (tourists stay on the boat)
10% of tourists come from Australia
Activities: hike, camp, kayak, dive (only if experienced), appreciate instinsic value (take photos)

Question 3

Is the tourism sustainable?

Answer 3

Low numbers visit, (46,000 per year) kept by high prices
Mainly from October to march o more than 100 people at one site at any one time.
People are well briefed on sustainability (no food allowed on the land)
Not allowed within a certain distance of wildlife, unless it comes to you
Encouraged to cover up deep footprints

Question 4

Environment of Antarctica

Answer 4

It is extremely fragile

Wilderness area with intrinsic and scientific value. Uninhabited apart from research areas.

Question 5

IAATO

Answer 5

Advocates and promotes the practise of environmentally responsible and safe travel to Antarctica.
Supports science through corporations with national Antarctic programs

Question 6

Climate change in Antarctica, effects

Answer 6

Affects colonies such as penguins as ice cover has been changing
Reduction of ice has lead to an increase of plant colonisation
Long term decline if krill

Question 7

Effects on the ice

Answer 7

When summer comes, the Ronne-filchner ice sheet melts (as big as Spain)
They weaken and retreat
Sea levels rise whin this happens

Question 8

Effects on the ocean

Answer 8

Ocean acidification will affect winter levels of calcium carbonate as early as 2030
Causing mass extinction of marine species