Antarctica Flashcards
Where is Antarctica located?
Antarctica is located at the South Pole. It’s surrounded by the Southern Ocean and the nearest countries to it are South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and Argentina.
Which countries claim different parts of Antarctica?
New Zealand, Australia, France, Norway, the UK, Chile, Argentina.
What type of biome is Antarctica?
Antarctica is a desert - a desert receives less than 250mm annually, and Antarctica receives 166mm along its coastal regions, and even less moving further inland.
What is the name of the ocean encircling Antarctica? How much does it cover, how much water does it hold, and what is it’s maximum depth?
The Antarctic Ocean/Southern Ocean. It lies just south of 60 degrees south latitude. It covers over 20 million square kilometres, holds over 70 million cubic kilometres of water, and has a maximum depth of 7,432 metres.
What is the Antarctic Convergence and what is it’s purpose?
An uneven line encompassing the Antarctic region, marking the where the cold Atlantic waters meet the warmer waters of the rest of the world. It provides an ideal environment for marine life, such as the Antarctic krill, to thrive.
What are the threats climate change poses to Antarctica?
The continent itself is 97.6% ice, so rising temperatures will literally melt the continent away.
The warming of ocean water will cause Antarctica’s native species to move elsewhere. It will also affect the thermohaline circulation system.
How are threats posed to Antarctica by climate change combatted?
A new system called “carbon credits” has been introduced, in which permits known as carbon credits allow the owner to emit a certain amount of CO2/greenhouse gases. If carbon credits are not purchased and the gases are still emitted, the owner may be subject to penalties or fines.
What are the threats posed to Antarctica by overfishing/whaling?
Overfishing of the Antarctic krill can lead to the extinction of many species in Antarctica, as they are a keystone species in many Antarctic food chains.
Whaling of Antarctic waters does not only decrease biodiversity, but sends some already endangered species of whale, such as the Antarctic blue whale, into extinction.
How are threats posed to Antarctica by overfishing/whaling combatted?
The IWC (International Whaling Committee) has held annual meetings since 1969 on the topic of whaling sustainably, and they have placed a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1982.
What are the threats posed to Antarctica by the search for mineral resources?
The future demand for resources will likely put pressure on the vast mineral resources found on the continent, such as gold, silver copper, and oil.
There have been oil deposits located in the Southern Ocean, but drilling of oil in these locations is likely to contaminate the waters and harm the aquatic flora and fauna.
How are threats posed to Antarctica by the search for mineral resources combatted?
The Madrid Protocol was signed on October 4, 1991 and entered into force in 1998. It protects Antarctica from exploitation for 50 years (until 2048).
What are the threats posed to Antarctica by tourism and scientific research?
Antarctica isn’t populated at all except by scientists at a small number of permanent research stations. Scientists and tourists are the main human threats to Antarctica.
Tourism in Antarctica takes several forms, such as airborne tourism in which tourists can take scenic flights over the continent, or landings on the continent itself. It can bring several threats, such as introduction of invasive species, disturbance of wildlife and risk of accidents and pollution.
How are the threats posed to Antarctica by tourism and scientific research combatted?
The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) have put together a number of measures that minimise impacts and maintain sustainable tourism, such as limiting ships to 500 passengers and placing limits on visiting sites.
