The Global Common and Into Antartica Flashcards
Name the global commons
High seas/deep oceans, atmosphere, north/south polar regions and outer space
What is the tragedy of the commons?
A phrase used to refer to the conflict for resources between individual interests and the common good
Give a problem of the high seas/deep ocean and a law to protect it
Overfishing. UNEP - International Maritime organisation and regional seas convention
Give a problem of the atmosphere and a law to protect it
Climate change. UNEP - Paris Agreement 2015
Give a problem of outer space and a law to protect it
Space debris - Treaty on Principles governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and USE of Outer Space
Give a problem of the polar regions and a law to protect it?
Loss of wilderness - Antarctic Treaty System (ATS)
Which ocean surrounds Antartica?
Southern Ocean
What happens at the Antarctic Convergence zone?
Cold, northward flowing waters from the Antarctic meet with warmer sub-antarctic waters.
What species are found at the ACZ?
Antarctic Krill
Describe Antartica’s location
South of the Antarctic Circle, exception of East Antarctic Coastline and Antarctic Peninsula which extends northwards from the West to about 63 degrees South.
What % of Antartica is covered by glacial ice?
97%
Which divides Western and Eastern Antartica?
Transantartic Mountains (peaks over 400m)
What is the average temperature in Antartica?
-49 degrees C
What is the mean annual precipitation?
Less than 50mm per year
What are the mean annual wind speeds?
50mph, gales can reach 200mph
hat are high mountain peaks with areas of rock emerging from ice sheets called?
Nunataks
How many fur seals were wiped out in 3 years?
300,000 (virtually extinct)
Why was whaling popular?
Highly profitable products (meat/bone meal)
Whaling in the Southern Ocean began in earnest in the early 1900s, how much of the World’s catch was from the Southern Ocean in 1910?
50%
What does the IWC stand for and when was it set up/when did they first meet?
International Whaling Commission
1946 set up/met in 1949
What did the IWC lead to?
1986 - Whaling moratorium (suspend all whaling)
What did the IWC set up in 1994?
Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary - 50 million square km around Antartica - banned all whaling (whale numbers slowly increasing)
What has now replaced whaling in the area?
Fishing - especially krill
What is CCAMLR and when did it come into force?
Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources - 1982
How much have krill numbers dropped by since the 1970s (fishing and CC) affecting the food web?
about 80%
How much have temperatures in Western Antartica risen by in the last 50 years?
3 degrees
How much has the Southern Ocean warmed by?
1 degree
What has happened to penguin colonies?
Change in their distribution
Why is Eastern Antartica gaining sea ice?
Sea ice is a thin layer which can be blown westerly by wind and can expand by bonding with other ice sheets (more snowfall).
What is ocean acidification?
CO2 released causes carbonic acid which makes the oceans become less alkaline
What is banned in Antartica? What happened in the 1960s-70 linked to this?
Mining - some members secretly tried to formulate a new mineral convention for future exploitation.
What are the main human threats?
Tourism and Scientific Research
When did expeditions begin and how many passengers are allowed?
1958, 50-100 passengers
What % of the 200 landing sites surveyed showed wear and tear?
only 5%
What are captains required to follow?
Linbald plan and IAATO (International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators).
What is SCAR?
Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
What are the main successes?
Whaling and mining
What are the main concerns?
Fishing and climate change
What is the ATS and when was it first signed?
Antarctic Treaty System - 1959 (12 nations)
Where does the ATS apply to?
Area south of 60 degrees south
When did the ATS come into force?
June 1961
What is the ATS seen as?
The most successful international agreement
How many members are in the ATS now?
52 countries
What year was the Madrid Protocol (Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty) and what did it ban officially?
1991 - banned mining and introduced species (protects environment)
What was the loophole in the IWC moratorium?
Japan ‘scientifically’ caught whales ended up in restaurants (one whale $1,000,000) market value.
Which NGO had an impact in the Madrid Protocol?
Greenpeace
What are carried out to monitor the ATS?
Environmental audits and environmental impact assessments
What is ASOC?
Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition - 30 NGOs founded in 1978
Why was the ATS needed?
Avoid disagreement/conflict/resolve territory issues/establish guidelines
How many articles are there in the ATS?
14
