Antarctica

Question 1

How has Antarctica’s climate been affected by climate change?

Answer 1

It has warmed by 3°c over the last 50 years

Question 2

How much if the Wilkins ice shelf has been lost?

Answer 2

28,000km^2 has been lost

Question 3

What does the loss of ice sheets mean for glaciers?

Answer 3

It speeds up the melting if glaciers as the ground ice sheet starts to retreat

Question 4

How much has the melting of the Antarctic peninsula has contributed to sea level rise?

Answer 4

Has added 0.16mm per year

Question 5

How much of the Ronne-Filcher ice sheet has melted?

Answer 5

25,000km^2

Question 6

What has happened to the penguin populations?

Answer 6

Some species have declined by 50% in some places due to the lack of permanent ice sheets, however some like the Adelie penguins have thrived

Question 7

How much have krill number dropped since the 1970’s?

Answer 7

They have dropped by 80% due to reductions in sea ice meaning less algae

Question 8

How much has the sea rose since the 1990’s?

Answer 8

By around 3mm

Question 9

How much would sea levels rise if all the ice on Antarctica melted?

Answer 9

It would rise by 78m completely covering low lying countries

Question 10

How is the thermohaline circulation system affected if more sea ice melts?

Answer 10

Melting sea ice adds freshwater into the oceans, reducing the salinity and decreasing marine biodiversity

Question 11

How would the reduction of krill affect the rest of the ecosystem?

Answer 11

It would drastically reduce the marine diversity as krill is the main food source for many species

Question 12

What sort of feedback is melting sea ice and why?

Answer 12

The feedback is positive as the melting ice sheets increase global sea temperatures due to more water, warmer water means more melting of ice sheets

Question 13

What is Antarctica?

Answer 13

A global common

Question 14

How has Antarctica tried to be preserved?

Answer 14

Through the creation of the Antarctic treaty and the Paris agreement

Question 15

How has the Paris agreement helped Antarctica?

Answer 15

It pledges that the 175 countries signed up to it are trying to keep global temperatures below a 2°c rise pre-industrialisation, hence reducing climate change

Question 16

How long has the Antarctic treaty been in place?

Answer 16

Nearby 50 years

Question 17

What legislation is under the Antarctic treaty?

Answer 17

1. The Antarctic treaty
2. The Madrid protocol
3. The conservation of Antarctic seals
4. The conservation of Antarctic marine living resources
5. The international whaling moratorium

Question 18

Why was the international whaling moratorium introduced?

Answer 18

This is due to overfishing of whales such as in the 1970’s blue were decreased to only 6000

Question 19

How is fishing and whaling an economic pressure on Antarctica?

Answer 19

This is due to whaling being banned in the southern ocean resulting in the overfishing of krill which is a huge food source for the marine life of Antarctica

Question 20

How is mineral exploitation an economic pressure on Antarctica?

Answer 20

There are large deposits of oil and coal found in Antarctica that due to the treaty cannot be exploited. However due to increasing prices they are being eyed up…

Question 21

How is tourism and scientific research an economic pressure on Antarctica?

Answer 21

Tourism has increased significantly since 2008 and this has altered the isolated wildlife and environment

Question 22

What is the thermohaline circulation system?

Answer 22

The transfer of southern surface polar water into the deep oceans near the north

Question 23

What is ablation?

Answer 23

This is the opposite of accumulation , referring to all processes that remove snow, ice or water

Question 24

What is a Nunatak?

Answer 24

An exposed ridge, mountain or peak not covered by ice or snow within an icefield or glacier

Question 25

What is the Antarctic convergence zone?

Answer 25

A natural boundary separating the hydrological regions, areas of distinct climate and areas of distinct wild life

Question 26

Where is the Antarctic convergence zone?

Answer 26

Located around 60° south