gsgg- Antarctica Flashcards
geography of antarctica
- 98 percent ice
- surrounded by southern ocean
- temps reach -60 in winter
- only 16 cm of rain per year
Antarctic convergence zone
-warm water meets cold water
-the meeting of water creates a productive ecosystem
climate change as a threat to Antarctica
- warms at a rate 5 x higher than the rest of the world
- temp increased by 3 degrees in the last 30 years
-plants grow changing ecosystem
-ocean acidification
whaling and fishing as a threat to Antarctica
-1930s Antarctic fur seal almost extinct
-5 percent of blue whales we had in 1911
tourism as a threat to Antarctica
-1990s 5000 per year, 2014 44,000
- last chance rush
- brings waste and pollution
-brings invasive species
mining as a threat to Antarctica
- large mineral deposits
- oil in southern ocean
IWC
- International whaling commission
-regulate whaling
-pause on commercial whaling 1982
The Antarctic treaty
-195
-all states share sovereignty
- no military activity
- share research
-reducing threat of tragedy of the commons
The Madrid protocol
-1991
-bans mining
-protects environment
Paris climate change agreement
-2016
-reduce climate change by 2 degrees
Action against tourism
-1991
-rules and regulations given
- waste must be brought back
-number limits
Greenpeace
-representatives at IWC
-Want to ban whaling
-violent