Antarctica Flashcards
(21 cards)
What is Antarctic Convergence ?
A zone continuously encircling Antarctica where cold northward flowing Antarctic waters meet the relatively warmer water of the sub-Antarctic.
What is the unique current around Antarctica ?
Antarctic Circumpolar Current at 60 degrees south.
What does the Antarctic Circumpolar Current naturally block ?
Two distinct hydrological regions, Areas of distinct climate, Areas of distinctive wildlife
What is the climate like ?
Average temperature in -50 degrees, Low annual precipitation (most of it falls as snow), Polar desert
What does the upwelling of cooler water from depths do ?
Bring nutrients which supports phytoplankton which is key food source for krill.
What did the International Whaling Commission do ?
Placed a ban on commercial whaling in 1986 as in 1960s the population declined by over 90%.
Why was whaling done ?
To create range of products including oil, whalebone, meat extract and whale meat
How did fishing replace whaling ?
In the 1960s, Russians and Japanese began to exploit the ocean for the fish species especially krill.
What are krill and why are they important ?
Tiny shrimp-like crustaceans which swim in massive numbers and virtually everything depends on krill.
What are krill being caught for ?
Krill oil, Good source of protein, Very high demand for krill oil as can treat depression.
How is climate change affecting the Antarctic Peninsula ?
According to IPCC the temperature has risen and as a result the peninsula has has thinned.
What are the impacts of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current warming ?
- Distribution of penguin colonies changed.
- Decline in Krill.
- Glaciers and ice shelves retreated or collapsed
Why would ocean acidification threat marine environments ?
Make adaptation difficult and the ocean could become corrosive to unprotected shells and exoskeletons of organisms which may disrupt food webs.
What does the Madrid Protocol do ?
Protects Antarctica from exploitation until 2048
What does the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) do ?
- No large ships more than 500 passengers are allowed to visit.
- When landing groups must be divided into boatloads of 20 ppl.
- Briefing tourists on a code of behaviour.
- Limits on visiting sites, each say may only be visited every 3-4 days.
Negative impacts to tourism ?
- Disturbance to fragile ecosystem.
- Tourist szn coincides with breeding szn.
- Accidently importing alien species.
- Oil spills and ships and boats.
What does the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) do ?
Monitors the resilience and adaptation to these disturbances and also the effect of any mitigation measures in place.
Explain the Antarctic Treaty ?
1961, 12 nations formalised the notion that Antarctica does not belong to any single nation.
- It designated the whole area south of 60 deg S as an area where countries would work together for the common causes of scientific research
What is the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) ?
Current international governance under control of ATS and is managed by Consultative Meetings with the 12 member states - also includes other organisations such as NGOs.
What is the role of NGOs ?
Influential in the governance of Antarctica, they represent those who consider environmental protection to be a top priority.
Influence decisions taken about development for example :
- Green Peace was successful in campaigning for the Madrid Protocol
- They make use of their expertise to gain acceptance and influence decisions made by ATS members.
- Work with ATS members to designate areas of protection.
Future concerns ?
- Duration of agreements. ATS coming to end in 2048.
- Territorial Claims
- Impacts of human activity
- Climate change
- Geopolitics of Antarctica.
