Case Study: Global Systems and Government, Antarctica Flashcards
1
Q
What is a global common and what are the four key global commons?
A
- A global common is an area of the world which no person or country can claim ownership of, though can (technically) be accessed by everyone.
Four key global commons are:
1. The high seas
2. Outer space
3. Antarctica
4. The Atmosphere
2
Q
Physical geography of Antarctica
A
- Cold desert - hasn’t rained in over 2 million years!
- Holds 70% of the Earth’s freshwater - 99% is covered in ice sheet. Ice can be up to 4km thick in places.
- Furthest Southern point on Earth.
- Coldest and windiest place on Earth. Average temperature of negative 34.4C.
- 13.66 million km2, so bigger than Europe! if it were a country it would be second only to Russia.
- Sea around Antarctica is largely/usually frozen or filled with packed ice, but the sea still has a moderating effect on coastal temperatures compared to the coastal interior.
- Where rocks are exposed, vegetation growth is quite limited due to the climate. Lichen and moss are the most common, though in the summer in the warmer peninsula area some flowers can grow.
- Fauna is limited on the continent to minute insects and mites which feed on the vegetation.
3
Q
what is a global commons?
A
- a part of the planet which falls outside national jurisdictions and to which all nations have access
4
Q
What is the history of fishing and whaling in Antarctica?
A
- after discovery in early 18th century there was a lot of fishing
> by 1800 fur seas of South Georgia were wiped out, and in three years after they were almost eradicated from the South Shetland Islands - Nineteenth century, British, America, and Norwegian exploitation of blue and right whales for oil, baleen, then later meat and bonemeal
> by 1985 stocks were so low that commercial whaling stopped, IWC - Russian and Japanese exploitation of the Southern Ocean for rock cod and krill is raising concerns
> krill is food for fish farmers - CCAMLR which is part of the ATS
> limits the amount of fishing able to be done in one section, only able to take 1% of the total biomass in the areas - some areas are marine protected areas where no fishing is allowed to take place
> only 5% of the area
5
Q
How is mineral extracting affecting Antarctica?
A
- coal, oil, manganese, titanium, gold, silver deposits are all around Antarctica
- sizeable deposits are hard to reach and not economically viable to mine
- any mineral exploitation would have to overcome the environment
-1991 there was a change in the Madrid Protocol which halted resource extraction until 2048
6
Q
How are scientists effecting Antarctica?
A
- 4000 scientists and support staff working over 50 widely scattered coastal and interior research stations
- run by 30 nations
- will measure the past climatic conditions by drilling into the ice for ice cores
- people being in Antarctica will produce waste and have to construct buildings
- ATS says all waste must be removed from Antarctica
> been quite good at it
only 6/200 landing sites are showing any signs of damage
> only 3% - people may disturb environment of animals
7
Q
How is climate change affecing Antarctica?
A
- climate change is effecting Antarctica more than anywhere else
> temperatures have risen by 0.5 C every year for the last 60 years in the Antarctic Peninsula
> 5 times faster than the rest of the world - climate change is effecting antarctica
> causing melting ice
> deteriorating permafrost
> sea level rise
> changing/loss of environment
> loss of biodiversity due to warming waters/changing environments - unstoppable from Antarctica
8
Q
How does tourism affect Antarctica?
A
- tourism is growing as countries are becoming more developed and technology is getting better
> Norway has opened a plane trip rather than a boat - from 2000 people a year in 1980 to 27000 in 2011-12 and then 52000 in 2017-18
- concern of invasive species being accidently introduces
> Mediterranean mussel - pollution from the boats and tourists
> MS explorer, a Canadian cruise ship capsized and released all of its oil, damaging the environment - disruption to the animals and environment
> peak tourist season is during mid November to March which is the breeding season of many animals
> footprints on fragile moss will stay there for decades - pressure on the heritage sites
9
Q
Who governs Antarctica?
A
- Antarctic Treaty System: ATS
> made in 1959
> has 52 nations currently signed up
> prevent military activity, and dumping of nuclear waste
> also guarantees free access and research rights to countries - Protocol on Environmental Protection
> made in 1991
> has 45 nations currently signed up
> ban all mineral resource activity including exploration of the continental shelf
>promotes comprehensive monitoring and assessment in order to minimise human impact - NGOs
> Green peace
>WWF
> Antarctic Ocean Alliance: AOA
+ designated marine protected areas - International Whaling Commission: IWC
> made in 1946 to monitor and conserve whale stocks
> in 1982 banned whale activity - Commission of the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources: CCAMLR
> made in 1982 with the goal to conserve Antarctic marine life
> in response to over exploitation of the Southern Ocean
10
Q
What is a problem with trying to monitor Antarctica and uphold the treaties?
A
- large, dangerous ocean which requires money and resources to monitor
> expensive, and no country wants to do it - boats can always go to other ports to drop off their catches
- countries can turn a blind eye if they think it will help them economically
- the laws are made by consensus
> no one can voice a disagreement - no major legal penalties for violating agreements
11
Q
How is fishing affecting Antarctica?
A
- extracting fish unsustainability and depleting the stock faster than it can replenish itself
- arctic kill is overfished as it is food for fish farmers
- declines the total biodiversity as lack of krill causes a destabilisation of the food chain
