Antarctica case study

Question 1

how much of the earths freshwater does antarctica hold?

Answer 1

90%
its the largest ice sheet

Question 2

what are the two words to describe Antarctica’s environment?

Answer 2

driest and coldest

Question 3

what’s the average temperate?

Answer 3

-40^oC

Question 4

how much precipitation does the coastal regions receive and how much does inland receive?

Answer 4

coastal 400-600mm
inland under 50mm

Question 5

what natural resources are found here?

Answer 5

fossil fuels and minerals, large oil reserves and iron ore deposits

Question 6

where are the iron ores found?

Answer 6

transatlantic mountains

Question 7

what are the four major threats?

Answer 7

climate change
fishing and whaling
mineral and resource exploitation
tourism and research

Question 8

why is climate change a threat to antarctica?

Answer 8

• warmer seas and atmospheric temperatures. huge icebergs calving into the sea. increase in global flooding.
• animals and plants. issue of invasive species that are adapted for higher temperatures move in and colonise. migration patterns have been disrupted. adelie penguin is in decline. overall effects the food chain.
• permafrost is melting and CO2 is released.
• albedo effect.

Question 9

why is fishing and whaling a threat to antarctica?

Answer 9

• overfishing of krill is disrupting the food chain. 150-200,000 tonnes fished annually. wide scale marine habitat damage.
• whaling started in the 18th century. there are regulations in place (IWC) as they are slow breeders so ecosystems will be damaged long term.

Question 10

how many tonnes of krill is overfished annually?

Answer 10

150-200,000 tonnes

Question 11

when did whaling start?

Answer 11

18th century

Question 12

why is mineral and resource exploitation a threat to antarctica?

Answer 12

• all mining is banned.
• oil exploitation disrupts habitats due infrastructure.
• oil spills damages the fragile ecosystem.
• metal and mineral exploitation is scaring away wildlife and causing damage beyond repair.
• fossil fuels.

Question 13

why is tourism and scientific research a threat to antarctica?

Answer 13

• 106,000 visited antarctica 2023.
• MS explorer crash 2007 left a mile long diesel spill disrupting penguin breeding grounds.
• litter dropped stays in the nutrient cycle for a long time as decomposition is slower here. disrupts the food chain.

Question 14

what happened in 2007?

Answer 14

the MS explorer crashed in 2007 leaving a mile long diesel spill disrupting penguin breeding grounds.

Question 15

how many people visited in 2023?

Answer 15

106,000

Question 16

what’s the UN organisation that works in antarctica?

Answer 16

UNEP (environment programme). but it’s had little influence as its work indirectly contributes to the governance of antarctica.

Question 17

what is the IWC?

Answer 17

international convention for the regulation of whaling.

Question 18

when was the IWC set up?

Answer 18

1946.

Question 19

what are 3 examples of the work of the IWC?

Answer 19

• whaling moratorium in 1982 banned all commercial whaling.
• the IWC scientific committee made the revised management procedure to estimate sustainable catch limits in 1994.
• southern ocean whale sanctury (1994) banned all commercial whaling and focuses on protecting calves and females.

Question 20

when was the whaling moratorium introduced?

Answer 20

1982.

Question 21

when was the revised management procedure introduced?

Answer 21

1994.

Question 22

when was the southern ocean whale sanctuary introduced?

Answer 22

1994.

Question 23

what are criticisms the IWC faces?

Answer 23

• they cant enforce penalties when people leave. (japan left in 2018).
• countries don’t need to abide to their rules eg norway and iceland.
• countries can exploit loop holes in regulations eg japan exploited the loop hold that allowed them to whale for scientific purposes in Antarctic waters.

Question 24

when did japan leave the IWC?

Answer 24

2018.

Question 25

what countries don’t abide to the rules of the IWC?

Answer 25

norway and iceland.

Question 26

what is the Antarctic treaty system?

Answer 26

collection of agreements that work to protect it through global governance.

Question 27

main points of the Antarctic treaty.

Answer 27

• 52 countries.
• only peaceful means and share research.
• its not a territory its a global common.
• nuclear activity is banned.
• its not mandatory so countries can choose not to sign.

Question 28

when was the Antarctic treaty established?

Answer 28

1959.

Question 29

when was the protocol on environmental protection to the Antarctic treaty?

Answer 29

1991.

Question 30

what does the protocol on environmental protection to the Antarctic treaty do?

Answer 30

• ban all mineral activities unless its for scientific purposes.
• added regulations to the original treaty including wate management and marine pollution.
• established the committee for environmental protection.

Question 31

what is the Antarctic and southern ocean coalition?

Answer 31

its purpose was to convince governments to prevent mineral exploitation by bringing secret negotiations into the public eye.

Question 32

when was the Antarctic and southern ocean coalition formed?

Answer 32

1978.

Question 33

what is the Antarctic and southern ocean coalition main focuses?

Answer 33

• overall environmental protection.
• monitoring marine protected areas.
• wildlife conservation.
• krill conservation.
• climate change.
• Antarctic governance.

Question 34

two examples of charities that work here?

Answer 34

greenpeace and WWF.

Question 35

what does greenpeace and WWF do?

Answer 35

• report on issues and release findings to the public and governments to spread awareness.
• boost donations.
• creating petitions, lobbying and campaigning for change.