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A level Geography - Human > Global Commons > Flashcards

Global Commons Flashcards

1
Q

Define global commons

A

Resource domains or areas that lie outside of the political reach of any one nation-state

An area that is owned or used jointly by a community

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2
Q

Give 4 examples of the world’s global commons

A

Oceans
Atmosphere
Space
Antarctica

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3
Q

What are the Pros and Cons of global commons

A

PROS

  • Provides multiple responsibilities to its care
  • Unspoilt (in theory)

CONS

  • Conflict over who has power over them
  • Political disputes
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4
Q

What does tragedy of the commons mean

A

AN economic theory of a situation within a shared-resource system where individual users acting indapenandtly according to their own self-interest, behaving contrary to the common good of all users by depleting or spoiling that resource through collective action

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5
Q

The Southern Ocean was recognised in 2000 as the……………..in the world with the average depth being….m

A

Largest

4000m

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6
Q

What is the Min circumpolar current

A

Largest current in the world

Helps redistribute the heat and influences temperature and rainfall patterns = helps bring nutrients from the deep ocean to the surface

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7
Q

What is the Antarctic Convergence

A

Zone where there is the mixing of waters of different temperatures and densities - causing turbulence, allowing ocean nutrients to rise from the depths to the surface, helping the growth of plantation and the marine ecosystem

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8
Q

What is the maximum sustainable yield

A

Amount of resource harvested without affecting the original population

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9
Q

Annual melt……the size of Antarctica

A

Halves

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10
Q

Define whaling

A

The hunting of whales, mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date back to 3000BC

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11
Q

What are some arguments pro-whaling in Japan

A

Tradition

Whales helped keep Japanese citizens fed during and after ww2

Whale meat made up half of all animal protein in 1947

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12
Q

What is the impact of krill fishing

A

100,000 tonnes caught per year

Concern that it could negatively affect the entire marine ecosystem as krill is a major food source for whales, fish, seals and birds

Fishing vessels operate in the immediate proximity of penguin colonies and whale feeding grounds

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13
Q

Krill biomass has increased by…% because of the reduction in whales

A

17

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14
Q

What is the impact of fishing the Patagonian Toothfish

A

High level of IUU fishing

Longline fishing can result in bycatch of bird species such as albatrosses and Petrels which are caught and drowned in the lines

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15
Q

How do the vast majority of tourists travel to Antarctica

A

By boat

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16
Q

No tourists…..on Antarctica

A

Stay

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17
Q

Give 6 impacts tourism can have on Antarctica

A

Disruption to animal species + breeding patterns

Mineral exploitation

Invasive species

Litter

Trampling + ice erosion

Oil spills

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18
Q

Explain disruption to animal species + breeding patterns

A

More tourists = more global warming = melting ice = bredding patterns altered (penguins)

Boats may scare marine life + tourists may frighten other animals

Boat noise disrupts mating calls of humpback whales

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19
Q

How do tourists influence mineral exploitation

A

Not economically viable + banned by Madrid review

But as technology increases and the Madrid Review comes up for renewal in 2048, it could pose a real threat

Would need infrastructure to be built on Antarctica + pollution

20
Q

What is the impact of invasive species

A

Damaging biodiversity through new diseases introduced or more dominant species interrupting the food chain

21
Q

What is the impact of litter in Antarctica

A

Tourists bring supplies which could include materials like plastics that do not biodegrade

Swallowed by animals

Uninhabited, so any dropped litter is unlikely to be picked up

22
Q

What is the impact of ice erosion/trampling

A

Exploration into new areas could cause the ice to become thinner and breakaway

23
Q

What is the impact of oil spills from boats in Antarctica

A

Oil spills can reduce the sunlight from reaching oceanic environments which can seriously impact producers, and thus, the entire food chain of an ecosystem

Oil destroys the insulating ability of fur-bearing mammals - exposing these creatures to the harsh elements.

Without the ability to repel water + insulated from cold water, birds and mammals will die from hyperthermia

Whales can ingest oil, damaging lungs + immune system

24
Q

Antarctica is one of the planets last………………, under threat from mankind’s insatiable……………..for harvesting the seas

A

Unspoilt ecosystems

Appetite

25
What is suction harvesting
Gathers up vast quantities of krill to meet the increased demand It threatens not just krill, but the entire ecosystem that depends on them
26
How do krill reduce global warming
Remove CO2 by eating carbon-rich food near the surface and excreting it when they sink lower, to colder waters to escape predators
27
Average Batarctic peninsula temperatures have risen by...ºC in last 50 years
2.5
28
Krill are thought to 'sequester' carbon equivalent to the emissions of...............................per year
35 million cars
29
How many tourists visited Antarctica 2018-19
55,489 Up 14% from the previous year
30
What is happening to East Antarctica and why
The ice sheet is thickening, as is the interior Likely to be increased snowfall Thickening due to warmer seas which increase evaporation to condense into cloud droplets and fall as extra snow in the frozen interior This slows sea-level rise by 1/10 mm per year
31
What is happening to the Peninsula and why
Increased rainfall Collapse of ice shelves around this area Reduction of sea ice Increased melting of low-lying snow + overall snow cover Most sensitive to climate change Past 60 years, temperature has risen by 0.5ºC per decade = 5x faster than rest of the world
32
What is happening to West Antarctica and why
Ice sheet = smaller and more vulnerable Most of the ice = 'warm based' - more likely to fall into the sea which could raise global sea levels by 5m
33
What is the IWC
Inter-governmental Organisation whose purpose is the conservation of whales and the management of whaling
34
Give the pros of the IWC
- Protects over 80 species of cetaceans - Works to address a wide range of conservation issues including bycatch, entanglements, ocean noise, pollution collision between ships and whales and sustainable whale catching - Any country can join - Countries are given expert advice so they are properly equipped
35
How many members are there of the IWC
89 - works on a global scale
36
The IWC is..........therefore not backed by any treaty. Therefore the IWC has substantial practical..........to its authority
Voluntary
37
Give the cons of the IWC
Not everyone does join - Japan and Canada pulled out of the agreement Any member may opt-out of any specific IWC regulations by lodging a formal objection to it within 90 days of the regulation coming into force. This is because it is preferable to have parties to remain with some agreement than opt-out altogether No ability to enforce any of its decisions through penalties
38
What is an NGO
Non-governmental organisation - means it's not bound or controlled by any government power Their influence can be varied and require sufficient funding
39
Give 4 NGO's
WWF ASOC - Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition AOA - Antarctic Ocean Alliance SCAR - Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
40
What does SCAR do
Charged with initiating, developing and coordinating scientific research in the Antarctic region Provides independent scientific advice to organisations and governments on the issues of protection and conservation management in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean
41
WWF influence in Antarctica
Campaigns against actions that will threaten Antarctic wildlife Saw new regulations that stopped vessels using/carrying heavy fule in ANtarctic waters come into force Spills of lighter-weight fuels could still happen, but at least it will evaporate and disperse more easily, posing less of a threat to wildlife
42
What is ASCO
Whose mission is to "protect the ANtarctic and SOuthern Oceans unique and vulnerable ecosystems". Monitors all issues that impact Antarctica including climate change, tourism, over-fishing (human causes)
43
What is the AOA
Worked to support the creation of a network of marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica After years of negotiations, world leaders agreed to protect the Ross Sea. This historic agreement set aside 2 million square km's of ocean (size of Mexico) as a sanctuary for Antarctica's unique marine life
44
What is the Antarctic Treaty
1961 - recognised as one of the most successful international agreements Treaty sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve, establishes freedom of scientific investigation and bans military activity
45
Give some points from the Antarctic Treaty
No military Complete freedom for scientific investigation Different nations will exchange scientific research All territorial claims are put aside Nuclear activity = banned
46
What is the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
SIgned in Madrid in 1991 Designates Antarctica as a "natural reserve, devoted to peace and science" Prohibits all activities related to Antarctic mineral resources, except for scientific research
47
What is UNEP
Aims to protect the global environment Regularly reports activity in Antarctica back to the UN

A level Geography - Human (14 decks)

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