Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

AQA A Level Geography - HUMAN > ✅Case Study - Antarctica as a Global Common > Flashcards

✅Case Study - Antarctica as a Global Common Flashcards

1
Q

What does Antarctica store?

A

Most of the world’s fresh water

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

How does the continent change in winter?

A

It doubles in size

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

When was Antarctica discovered?

A

In 1821, by sealers

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

How do East and West Antarctica differ

A

West is melting a lot faster, is just ice
East is on top land

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

What is an ice sheet?

A

Results from small inputs of snow and frost (exceeding ablation rates) over a very long time

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

What is ablation?

A

The opposite of accumulation, refers to all processes that remove snow, ice and water from the glacier or snowfield

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

What is a nunatack?

A

An exposed, rocky element of a ridge, mountain or peak not covered by snow or ice within or at the edge of an ice field or glacier. Also know as glacial islands

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

What is the Antarctic convergence zone?

A

A natural boundary separating two distinct hydrological regions/ areas of distinct climate

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

Why do Antarctic waters freeze at such low temperatures?

A

Because they are so salty

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

What happens at the Antarctic convergence zone?

A

Warm surface water and cold antarctic water meet

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

What is global thermohaline circulation?

A

When water moves along gradients

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

How does water have a tendency to move?

A

From warm to colder areas

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

How much of the land is ice free?

A

Less than 5%

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

What do mean winter temperatures range from?

A

-9 to -68 degrees C

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

What are claims of Antarctic land founded on?

A

Discovery and exploration of areas
Proximity to Antarctica
Seeking control of natural resources

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

When was the Antarctic Treaty created?

A

1959

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

How many countries have now signed the treaty?

A

46

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are the main intentions of the treaty?

A

Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only
Antarctica should be a site of scientific investigation
No nation would be obligated to surrender its claim, and no new claim could be made

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What does the environmental protocol of the treaty state?

A

Commits the parties to comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment
Designates Antarctica as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science
Bans all commercial mineral resource activity
Requires assessment of impacts of any activities

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

When will the environmental protocol be revised?

A

2048

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How many environmental NGOs work in coalition to protect Antarctica?

A

Over 1000

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What human activities threaten Antarctica?

A

Scientific research
Mineral exploitation
Fisheries
Tourism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How many permanent scientific bases exist on Antarctica?

A

40

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

How can scientific research threaten the environment?

A

In 1989, an Argentine ship ran aground and released 25,000 gallons of fuel into the sea. Similar events have occurred at Russian and US bases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Where have coal seams been discovered?
Along the coastline and in the mountains
26
Why has activity at coals seams so far been deterred?
It isn't commercially viable, but may be needed fr future demand
27
Where has a great potential for oil?
The Weddel and Ross seas, on the continental shelf
28
How many barrels of oil are estimated to be in the Weddel and Ross seas?
50 billion
29
What is the only large scale exploitation in Antarctica?
Fishing
30
What are the impacts of fishing in Antarctica?
Over-fishing of target species Effects on species that depend on target species Killing of other species accidentally caught Destruction of habitat by equipment
31
What is the biggest species of concern in Antarctic fisheries?
Krill
32
Why are krill such an important species?
They feed on phytoplankton, and are then eaten by a wide range of species
33
What has been put down to the over fishing of Krill?
The decline in some penguin species
34
Why is Krill being fished?
It is used as feed on salmon farms and their enzymes have pharmaceutical uses
35
What is CCAMLR?
Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
36
What do CCAMLR do?
Control the commercial fisheries in the Southern Ocean, taking into account the species being fished and their prey and predator species. They monitor all fishing in the region
37
What must all vessels in the CCAMLR region participate in?
Monitoring systems to report krill catches
38
Why are pharmaceutical companies interest in Antarctic species?
For their anti-freeze proteins in the blood, and for how fish slow their heartbeat to save energy in cold environments
39
Who banned whaling in the Antarctic?
The International Whaling Commission
40
What is the limit of viability?
The amount of meltwater an ice shelf can take before it begins to weaken and retreat
41
What area does the Antarctic Treaty apply to?
60 degrees south
42
What does the Treaty not apply to?
The seas
43
When was the Whaling Moratorium introduced?
1982
44
What did the Whaling Moratorium do?
Banned commercial whaling Prevented a 10% decline in no. of hump back whales
45
How were whales previously hunted?
Using harpoons and specialist whaling boats
46
What did Greenpeace do for Antarctic whales?
They launched an anti-whaling campaign shortly after the organisation formed, and Greenpeace ships began confronting whaling fleets
47
Which countries ignore the moratorium?
Japan, Iceland and Norway
48
How many whales does Japan hunt each year for 'research'?
300
49
How much money can 1 whale make?
$1 million
50
When was the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary set up?
1994
51
Who set up the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary?
The International Whaling Commission
52
What is the aim of the whale sanctuary?
To benefit the long term conservation of whales
53
How does the sanctuary benefit whales?
By facilitating recovery of depleted whale populations by protecting important areas
54
How does the whale sanctuary benefit surrounding nations economically?
Provides economic benefits to range of states by providing opportunities to develop non-lethal economic uses of ecotourism and whale watching
55
How has scientific whaling changed over the years?
It has increased
56
What is the Madrid Protocol?
The protocol on environmental protection for the Antarctic treaty, protects natural reserves
57
How successful has the Madrid protocol been?
Mining is prohibited and minerals are protected, so the environment is preserved, and toxic chemicals are prohibited from being discharged into the sea
58
Why is the Madrid protocol needed?
To provide comprehensive protection for the environment after Russian bases were dumping waste
59
How many parties have agreed to the Madrid Protocol?
34, with a further 11 signed but not ratified
60
What is the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals?
A convention for promoting and achieving the protection, scientific study and rational use of seals
61
When did the seal convention come into place?
1978, after seals were killed by clubbing for their pelts, young seals wanted
62
What has happened since the seal convention came into place?
Seal populations have recovered, proof that CCAS is a successful international agreement
63
Why is the seal convention needed?
To recognise that the stocks of Antarctic seals are an important living resource and should not be exploited and depleted
64
How many parties have agreed to the seal convention?
17
65
What is the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources?
An international convention with the objective of conserving Antarctic marine life, in response to increasing commercial interest in krill
66
When was the Conservation of Marine Living Resources brought in?
1982, the same year as the whaling ban
67
How successful has CCAMLR been?
Seabird mortality has been reduced, protected areas have been established, vulnerable ecosystems managed and challenges of illegal fishing addressed
68
Why was CCAMLR set up?
Because there was increasing commercial interest in krill
69
Who enforces CCAMLR?
All vessels are monitored and the policy is implemented by all 25 countries
70
What is ASOC?
Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition
71
Who does ASOC represent?
Brings together more than 30 groups so has a wide scope, includes WWF and Wildlife Organisations
72
Why was ASOC set up?
A US lawyer exposed a secret minerals framework for Antarctica
73
What categories are ASOC's current works split into?
Environmental Protection Wildlife Conservation Antarctic Governance
74
How does ASOC plan to tackle Antarctic climate change issues?
Through public advocacy, promoting adaptation strategies, and climate science
75
What do ASOC seek in terms of protection?
The highest possible level of environmental protection for the Antarctic region and for all wildlife
76
Which area do ASOC want to be protected?
The Ross Sea and areas for species such as Minke whales and Krill
77
How important is ASOC's work in the Ross Sea?
It is striving for it to be a Marine Protected Area and maintaining its diversity and abundant marine life. Almost untouched as it was thousands of years ago, preserved
78
How is tourism a threat to Antarctica
each tourist arrival accounts for 83 tonnes of snow loss and 4.1 tons of CO2 emissions Demand for extreme tourism is only rising MS explorer crash in 2007 left mile long oil spill in penguin breeding grounds But economic value of tourism prevents more whaling and mining
79
How is Mining a threat to Antarctica
As demand for fossil fuels rise and more ice melts making mining easier there may be greater pressure to mine in Antarctica, which damages habitats But mining has been banned there
80
How is Fishing and whaling a threat to Antarctica
Krill are essential in food chain But krill catches went from 500,000 in 80s to 150,000 a year Krill regulations have been introduced to keep population able to regenerate, e.g, recording krill fishing number most IWC member against whaling although Japan ignores it Whales take a long time to reproduce so are more vulnerable to extinction
81
How is climate change a threat to Antarctica
Polar amplification means poles have greatest temperature rise, and thus damage West Antarctica has risen 3 degrees C since 1995 More ice melts, more water in contact with ice, more melting- positive feedback Emperor penguins have declined up to to 50% in some places Ice loss x6 from 1980 to 2017 to 250 gigatonnes a year But global mitigation attempts, e.g, stopping fossil fuels, help

AQA A Level Geography - HUMAN (27 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions