Antarctica and Global Commons Flashcards
What are global commons?
resource domains or areas
that lie outside of the political reach of any one nation
state.
What are 4 global commons?
● the high seas
● the atmosphere
● Antarctica
● outer space
How does international law view global commons?
a. it is the common heritage of mankind principle b. it should be distributed equally for the benefit of everyone
Why it was easier to protect global commons in the past? What has changed recently?
A. In the past they were out of reach
B. advances in science and technology have given easier
access to a range of resources
B. Greater pressure to find resources
Explain what is “The tragedy of the commons”
If individuals act independently and according to their
self-interest, this will be contrary to the interest of the
whole group because the shared resource will become
depleted.
Give one example of the “tragedy of the commons”
Global fish stocks
What is the name of the treaty that protects Antarctica as the global common?
Antarctic Treaty Systems (ATS)
Two largest Ice shelves in Antarctica?
Ross Ice Shelf and Ronnie Ice Shelf
Two seas near Antarctica?
Weddell Sea and Ross Sea
Location of the Southern Ocean?
SOUTH from 60 S latitude
The border of the Antarctic Treaty Limit?
60 S lattitude
What is the Antarctic Convergence Zone?
A zone continuously encircling
Antarctica where cold northward flowing Antarctic waters
meet the relatively warmer waters of the sub-Antarctic
How big is the Antarctic Convergence Zone?
32-48 km wide, varying latitude seasonally , 48-61
What are the forms of life associated with the Antarctic Convergence Zone?
Krill
What is the Antarctic Circumpolar Current or the West Wind Drift?
This current effectively blocks warmer waters travelling
southwards.
The Circumpolar Current flows in an
EASTWARD direction being driven by westerly winds
What is the EAST WIND Drift? Which direction does it flow?
A lesser current, closer to Antarctica, flows in the opposite
direction westwards; it is known as the East Wind Drift
and is driven by easterly polar winds. The East Wind
Drift features prominently in the Ross and Weddell Seas.
What is Antarctic Divergence?
It is the place where the East Wind Drift and Circumpolar Current meet
How much percent of Antarctica is covered by glacial ice?
98%
Differences between West and East Antarctica
The East Antarctic ice sheet is larger, thicker and much
older than the West Antarctic ice sheet. The Ellsworth
Mountains are found in West Antarctica and contain the
continent’s highest peak – Mount Vinson (4,892 m).
Which continent is the highest?
Antarctica - 2,500 m above sea level
Why is Antarctica described as a polar desert?
A. mean annual precipitation, falling predominantly as
snow, is low (especially in the interior) at less than
50 mm per annum
B. mean annual wind speed of 50 miles per hour (mph)
resulting from the convergent katabatic winds; gales
can reach 200 mph
How does the wind in Antarctica support phytoplankton?
Sea temperature is warmer than the land
The CONVERGENT CATABATIC WIND blows the warmer water away
Upwelling cooler water from the ocean depths brings nutrients, which in turn support phytoplankton (microscopic algae)
What percentage of whales live in the Southern Ocean?
80%
By the 1960s - what was the decrease in whale population?
By the 1960s, whaling was no longer
commercially viable as whale populations had declined
by over 90 per cent due to overkilling and many
species had become endangered
