The impact of changing carbon budgets is a much greater threat to Antarctica than the impact of tourism or fishing and whaling Flashcards
What is the carbon budget?
capacity of greenhouse gas emissions that can be emitted and tolerated over a period of time
What activity is exceeding the limit of carbon dioxide emissions?
human activity like the burning of fossil fuels
Where is Antarctica?
continent located to the south of the southern hemisphere with a fragile environment
What side of Antarctica is reducing by how much and why?
West side is reducing by 75% in the last 10 years due to impacts of changing carbon budgets
How has the retreating of ice sheets posed a threat to Antarctica?
- distribution of penguin colonies changed
- decline in Arctic krill by 40%
- glaciers collapsing
- ice shelves breaking up
What is Antarctica populated by?
scientists and tourists
What does the ATS ensure?
guaranteed freedom of scientific research
What do large amounts of impacts come from from scientists?
vehicle exhaustion due to the banning of huskies - -/ve environmental impact
What coincides with peak wildlife breeding season?
tourist season
Why is the tourist season a threat for wildlife?
-could disrupt breeding patterns
What rule is in place for tourists and wildlife?
stay within 10 metres away from wildlife
When did whaling begin?
19th century
What were whalers main targets?
blue whales and whalebone/oil
When was the IWC created?
1946 and led to an end in whaling by 1985
What was the moratorium and whale sanctuary created for?
ban commercial whaling even further
