gsgg- Antarctica Flashcards
(24 cards)
geography of antarctica
- 98 percent ice
- surrounded by southern ocean
- temps reach -60 in winter
- only 16 cm of rain per year
Antarctic convergence zone
-warm water meets cold water
-the meeting of water creates a productive ecosystem
climate change as a threat to Antarctica
- warms at a rate 5 x higher than the rest of the world
- temp increased by 3 degrees in the last 30 years
-plants grow changing ecosystem
-ocean acidification - Ice sheets are melting, sea levels are rising
whaling and fishing as a threat to Antarctica
-1930s Antarctic fur seal almost extinct
-5 percent of blue whales we had in 1911
tourism as a threat to Antarctica
-1990s 5000 per year, 2014 44,000
- last chance rush
- brings waste and pollution
-brings invasive species
mining as a threat to Antarctica
- large mineral deposits
- oil in southern ocean
- They are valuable but extraction is banned under international law.
IWC
- International whaling commission
- regulate whaling
- pause on commercial whaling 1982
The Antarctic treaty
- 1959
- all states share sovereignty
- no military activity
- share research
-reducing threat of tragedy of the commons
The Madrid protocol
-1991
-bans mining
-protects environment
Paris climate change agreement
-2016
-reduce climate change by 2 degrees
Action against tourism
-1991
-rules and regulations given
- waste must be brought back
-number limits
Greenpeace
-representatives at IWC
-Want to ban whaling
-violent
What is a global common?
An area outside national jurisdiction that is accessible to all nations and requires collective management, e.g., Antarctica.
What proportion of Earth’s freshwater is stored in Antarctica?
Around 70%.
Name two iconic animal species in Antarctica.
Penguins and seals.
Why is melting sea ice a positive feedback loop?
Less ice = less albedo = more heat absorption = more melting.
What is one key role Antarctica plays in environmental science?
It’s a critical site for climate change research and environmental monitoring.
What are the environmental impacts of scientific research stations?
Waste generation and habitat disruption.
What is the main concern about krill fishing in Antarctica?
It threatens the base of the marine food chain.
What does IAATO do?
Sets guidelines for responsible tourism.
Give an example of an IAATO guideline.
Limit visitor numbers at landing sites.
What is the role of the UNEP in Antarctica?
supports sustainable development and protection under the Antarctic Treaty
who sets the guidelines on tourism
IAATO
who supports sustainable development and protection under the Antarctic Treaty
UNEP
