global gov (3.2.1.5) Antartica

Question 1

where is most of Antartica?

Answer 1

south of the antarctic circle

Question 2

what are the 2 largest ice shelves that that fringe the coastline?

Answer 2

Ross ice shelf (ROSS SEA)

Ronnie ice shelf (WEDDELL SEA)

Question 3

how big in the antarctic convergence zone?

Answer 3

32-48km wide (varies in latitude seasonally)

Question 4

what happens at the ACZ?

Answer 4

cold, northward flowing Antarctic waters SINK beneath the warms south flowing water. the forms associated areas with upwelling and mixing= high marine productivity especially in antarctic krill

Question 5

what does the ACZ separate? 3

Answer 5

• two distinct hydrological regions
• areas of distinct climate
• areas of distinctive wildlife

Question 6

what % of Antartica is glacial ice?

Answer 6

97.6%

Question 7

what is the transantartic range?

Answer 7

area that contains 4000m and divides west and east Antarctic ice sheets

Question 8

what is the difference between the east and west ice sheets?

Answer 8

EAST
-larger/ thicker
WEST
-smaller/ thiner/ older

Question 9

What is the average hight of antarctica above sea level?

Answer 9

2300m above sea level (known as the highest continent)

Question 10

what is the average temperature of Antartica? what is the lowest?

Answer 10

• 49°C

- 89°C

Question 11

what is the average wind speed and the result of this?

Answer 11

50mph result from the convergent katabatic winds

Question 12

what is the highs that the wind speed can reach?

Answer 12

200mph

Question 13

what is the mean annual precipitation?

Answer 13

less than 50 mm yearly

Question 14

what is best word to describe the climate of Antartica?

Answer 14

polar desert

Question 15

what does the blooming of phytoplankton lead to?

Answer 15

food for krill

Question 16

what are the 5 main threats to Antartica?

Answer 16

climate change, tourism, scientific research, mining and fishing and whaling

Question 17

when did fishing and whaling begin?

Answer 17

19th century

Question 18

who where the targets of fishing and whaling?

Answer 18

blue and right Wales for oil and whale bone

Question 19

what is the main effect of fishing and whaling?

Answer 19

species extinction

Question 20

give an example of a close species extinction?

Answer 20

1830’s antarctic fur whale

Question 21

how many blue whale are left?

Answer 21

10-25,000 (3%-11% of 1911 figure)

Question 22

what has happened to the % of krill since 1970s?

Answer 22

dropped by 80%

Question 23

what happened with the minke Wales ?

Answer 23

in 2018 Japanese whale hunters where in Antarctica’s waters and killed 333 whales of which 122 were pregnant , claimed it was part of a scientific research investigation

Question 24

who are The Antarctic treaty (1959)?

Answer 24

give rules on how antartica should be sustainably managed

Question 25

who are the ‘protocol an environment protection of antarctic treaty’ (1991) ?

Answer 25

-protects the environment

Question 26

who are the IWC (1946)?

Answer 26

international whaling commission, responsible for regulating whaling and declared a pause on commercial whaling in 1982 (Japan found loop hole)