Antarctica case study Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

how much of the earths freshwater does antarctica hold?

A

90%
its the largest ice sheet

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

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

A

driest and coldest

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what’s the average temperate?

A

-40^oC

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

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

A

coastal 400-600mm
inland under 50mm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what natural resources are found here?

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

where are the iron ores found?

A

transatlantic mountains

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what are the four major threats?

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

why is climate change a threat to antarctica?

A
  • 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.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

why is fishing and whaling a threat to antarctica?

A
  • 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.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

how many tonnes of krill is overfished annually?

A

150-200,000 tonnes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

when did whaling start?

A

18th century

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

why is mineral and resource exploitation a threat to antarctica?

A
  • 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.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

why is tourism and scientific research a threat to antarctica?

A
  • 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.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what happened in 2007?

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

how many people visited in 2023?

A

106,000

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what’s the UN organisation that works in antarctica?

A

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

17
Q

what is the IWC?

A

international convention for the regulation of whaling.

18
Q

when was the IWC set up?

A

1946.

19
Q

what are 3 examples of the work of the IWC?

A
  • 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.
20
Q

when was the whaling moratorium introduced?

A

1982.

21
Q

when was the revised management procedure introduced?

A

1994.

22
Q

when was the southern ocean whale sanctuary introduced?

A

1994.

23
Q

what are criticisms the IWC faces?

A
  • 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.
24
Q

when did japan leave the IWC?

A

2018.

25
Q

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

A

norway and iceland.

26
Q

what is the Antarctic treaty system?

A

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

27
Q

main points of the Antarctic treaty.

A
  • 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.
28
Q

when was the Antarctic treaty established?

A

1959.

29
Q

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

A

1991.

30
Q

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

A
  • 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.
31
Q

what is the Antarctic and southern ocean coalition?

A

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

32
Q

when was the Antarctic and southern ocean coalition formed?

A

1978.

33
Q

what is the Antarctic and southern ocean coalition main focuses?

A
  • overall environmental protection.
  • monitoring marine protected areas.
  • wildlife conservation.
  • krill conservation.
  • climate change.
  • Antarctic governance.
34
Q

two examples of charities that work here?

A

greenpeace and WWF.

35
Q

what does greenpeace and WWF do?

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