Antarctica

Question 1

How big is Antarctica?

Answer 1

14 million km²

Question 2

How much of earth’s ice is stored in Antarctica?

Answer 2

90%

Question 3

How much of Earth’s freshwater is stored in Antarctica?

Answer 3

70%

Question 4

What is the average temperature in Antarctica?

Answer 4

-49°C

Question 5

Which plants grow on Antarctica?

Answer 5

Mosses and lichens
Only tow species of flowering plants grow

Question 6

Which species live in Antartica?

Answer 6

Fish, seals, whales albatrosses and penguins

Question 7

What is the state of Antarctica’s ecosystem?

Answer 7

Fragile

Question 8

How much has the west coast of Antarctica warmed up by in the past 5 decades?

Answer 8

3°C

Question 9

How much has the krill population declined by since the 1970s?

Answer 9

80%

Question 10

What is the significance of Antarctica’s krill?

Answer 10

It is the main source of food for penguins, whales and seals

Question 11

What has caused the decline in the krill population?

Answer 11

Sea ice melting

Question 12

Example of an overfished species

Answer 12

Patagonian toothfish

Question 13

How many tonnes of krill were fished from Antarctica in 2013?

Answer 13

200,000

Question 14

What are the impacts of overfishing?

Answer 14

Less food supply for the other species that rely on them for food

Question 15

How are albatrosses impacted by fishing?

Answer 15

Many get caught in fishing lines and drown

Question 16

What minerals can be found in Antarctica?

Answer 16

Coal and iron ore

Question 17

What are the terms of the ATS?

Answer 17

Antarctica should remain a global common
Countries should cooperate on scientific research in Antarctica
Antarctica should only be used for peaceful reasons - no military presence

Question 18

What did the 1991 Protocol do?

Answer 18

Banned all mining in Antarctica
Set out rules to regulate waste disposal and pollution

Question 19

Which global institutions govern Antarctica?

Answer 19

International Whaling Commission
United Nations Environment Programme

Question 20

What does the IWC do?

Answer 20

Ensures that the whale population is at a sustainable level

Question 21

What doe the UNEP do?

Answer 21

Reports activity on Antarctica to the UN

Question 22

What does CCAMLR do?

Answer 22

Aims to stop illegal fishing practices and conserve the Antarctic ecosystem

Question 23

When was whaling banned?

Answer 23

1982

Question 24

How many whales were killed by Japan in 2018 for scientific research?

Answer 24

300

Question 25

What does ASOC do?

Answer 25

Focuses on preventing exploitation and speaks out against exploitation Monitors the effects that climate change is having on Antarctica e.g. checking ice and sea levels

Question 26

How does global governance influence Antarctica?

Answer 26

Aims to combat the adverse effects of climate change Allows for scientific discovery Allows for tourism

Question 27

How many tourists visit Antarctica annually?

Answer 27

100,000

Question 28

What threats does tourism pose to Antarctica?

Answer 28

Oil leaks Increased melting Impacts upon wildlife