Antartica Flashcards
Antarctica Basic Facts:
Area
Freshwater%
Temperature
Precipitation
Ecosystem
Natural resources
14 million km2
90% of earths surface freshwater
Coldest place on earth averaging -40C
Very low precipitation-some areas under 50mm per year
Few plants including mosses and lichen but diverse marine life
Rich in untapped natural resources including oil and many metals
What are the 4 major threats to Antartica?
Climate Change
Fishing and Whaling
Mineral/Resource Exploitation
Tourism and Scientific Research
Climate Change:
Warmer sea and atmospheric temperatures causes ice melting.
Rising sea levels caused by the ice melt.
CO2 stored in ice sheets is released causing further warming.
Highly adapted animals and plants are impacted by rising temperatures and loss of sea ice.
Also rising temperatures increases the risks of invasive species.
Fishing and Whaling:
Krill is the most fished marine animal, with 200,000 tonnes fished annually, and the majority of this being Antarctic Krill.
Large scale illegal fishing prevents effective regulations.
Whaling became most prominent in the 19th century by the USA, UK and Netherlands who killed whales mainly for oil.
Currently bans on almost all whaling with whaling ceasing in the 1980’s due to such low population levels.
Mineral/Resource Exploitation:
All mining is banned in Antarctica, and any mineral/fossil fuel exploitation would be extremely difficult due to Antarctica’s location and thick ice. However, with a fossil fuel crisis looming within the century, the demand for more resources may lead to exploitation being possible.
Antarctica is a very sensitive environment so
Tourism and Scientific Research:
Tourism is growing in popularity with ships impacting Antarctica through fossil fuel emissions, sea ice destruction and cruise ship crashes.
The MS Explorer crash in 2007 left a mile long diesel spill which disrupted penguin breeding grounds.
Also tourists may scare away wildlife and litter will stay for a long time due to low decomposition.
Scientific research brings facilities and equipment that can disrupt the local environment.
In the past dogs could be brought but they have been removed because when food was very low they were fed seals and penguins and brought the risk of diseases.
What are the main bodies governing Antarctica?
UN (UNEP)
IWC
ATS
Many other organisations with smaller roles: CCAMLR, NGOs and Charities
What is the UNs role on governing Antarctica?
UN can set global laws and regulations but has little to do with Antarctica.
UNEP is a sub-organisation of the UN and has attended ATS meetings and contributed to its reports but doesn’t work directly on Antarctica.
UNEPs research and legislation into global environmental problems does protect Antarctica indirectly.
What is the IWCs role on governing Antarctica?
Set up in 1946 with 89 member states.
Sets ‘catch limits’ on whaling.
Works with the Scientific Committee in order to research and study whaling
Coordinates conservation work and provides funds.
Introduced a Whaling Moratorium in 1982, banning all commercial whaling on all
species and all populations until further notice.
What are the Criticisms of the IWC?
Member states choose to be in the IWC so can opt out and cant be penalised for leaving.
Countries can object to the IWCs regulations such as Norway who still commercially farm whales.
There are also many loopholes that reduce the effectiveness of the IWC.
What is the ATS’s role on governing Antarctica?
53 countries in the treaty.
States Antarctica should only be used for peaceful means and can be used for scientific research as long as it is all shared.
Stations can be inspected at any time and nuclear activity is banned.
Criticisms of the ATS?
Treaty is not mandatory so countries can not sign it.
Inspections are rare.
All treaty changes are unanimous so changes can be easily blocked.
