Antarctica

Question 1

List the main abiotic features of the antarctic environment (3 marks)

Answer 1

Any three from:

1 - Extreme low temperatures
2 - High wind speed
3 - Low precipitation (except at coastal areas)
4 - Extreme changes in seasons (light and temperatures)
5 - Nutrient upwelling at coastal areas

Question 2

Why is there limited complex food webs found in terrestrial areas (1 mark)

Answer 2

The extremely low temperatures/extreme changes in seasons for light and temperature/poor soil quality mean that plant life is not abundantly found.

Question 3

What abiotic feature leads to an abundance of life found in coastal areas (1 mark)

Answer 3

Nutrient upwelling at coastal areas leads to an abundance of phytoplankton, and then krill, this is the basis of all food webs in the area leading to high biodiversity

Question 4

What physiological features are common between species found in Antarctica (list as many as you can)

Answer 4

Often larger species - small SA:Vol which reduces heat loss via the skin

Often contain blubber - acts as insulation

May contain antifreeze proteins in the blood - allowing survival in the cold temperatures

Question 5

How does Antarctica influence the hydrological cycle?

(this could also be considered as “Why is Antarctica important?”)

Answer 5

Antarctical stores up to 70% of the Earths fresh water - the loss of Antarctic ice will increase global sea levels (which will have large economic and environmental consequences)

Question 6

How does Antarctica influence the climate?

(this could also be considered as “Why is Antarctica important?”)

Answer 6

Antarctica stores vast amounts of carbon in ice sheets and in algae - loss of this will increase carbon output into the atmopshere, this will increase GHG concentrations and could lead to increase in global temperautures

The ice sheets reflect solar radiation back into space (high albedo) which maintains a stable climate. Loss of ice will lead to a reduced albedo effect and increase in global temperatures

Question 7

What resources are found in Antarctica?

(this could also be considered as “Why is Antarctica important?”)

Answer 7

Most resources relate to fishing
- Antarctic toothfish
- Krill

Historically - whale species were also caught in the Southern Ocean

Question 8

Why is Antarctica used for extensive research?

(this could also be considered as “Why is Antarctica important?”)

Answer 8

Antarctica has limited human influence (pollution) and therefore is idea for studying
- Atmosphere
- Astronomy

Question 9

What is albedo? (1 mark)

Answer 9

The reflection of solar radiation into space

Question 10

Explain how Antarctica helps to regulate the global temperature of Earth (1 mark)

Answer 10

Ice has a high albedo / reflects incoming radiation

Question 11

Explain the threats to Antarctica (6 marks)

Answer 11

3 for threats
3 for explanations

Climate change
-increased global temperatures will lead to reduced ice coverage (reduced habitat, increase in sea levels) OR
- reduction in nutrient upwelling which will reduce the amount of phytoplankton and lead to food web collapse (reduced biodviersity)

Ozone depletion
- use of CFCs reduces the concentration of O3 at the poles, leading to increased incoming solar radiation and global heating

Overfishing
- Fishing for food stocks for humans (or human food) reduces availability of food for indigenous species, leading to a reduction in biodiversity

Tourism
- People visiting Antarctica may bring non-native species / disease which will reduce diversity

Pollution
- research stations and tourism produce pollution (burning of fuel and waste) which will contaminate Antarctica

Question 12

Why might there be an increase in non-indigenous species in Antarctica in the future (3 marks)

Answer 12

Any three from:
- Tourism/research bringing in
- Climate change leading to increse in temperature inside the range of tolerance for new species
- Climate change leading to less ice coverage on land allowing new species to colonise
- Climate change leading to changes to ocean currents moving new species into the area

Question 13

Name two atmospheric threats that are monitored in Antarctica (2)

Answer 13

GHG concentration and Ozone concentration

Question 14

What is the Antarctic Treaty (1 mark)

Answer 14

An international agreement which aims to control:
- Military activity
- Tourism
- fishing
- mineral activities

Question 15

What is CCALMS (The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) (1982) (1 mark)

Answer 15

An international treaty which aims to conserve Antarctic marine life

Question 16

What is IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators) (1990)

Answer 16

International agreement on tourism which aims to - limit the number of people allowed on Antarctica at any one time.
- Establishes safe distances from wildlife

Question 17

What is the IWC (international whaling commission)

Answer 17

International agreement which aims to regulate whaling in the Southern Ocean

Question 18

How does the Montreal Protocol impact Antarctica? (1 mark)

Answer 18

By regulating the use of CFCs which reduce the Ozone layer

Question 19

Describe how named methods of conservation protect Antarctica. (5 marks)

Answer 19

Five methods with descriptions of how they protect Antarctic from:

1.   limited numbers of tourists ashore/ areas visited/ boats to prevent disturbance to wildlife / erosion
2.   shoe covers/ sterilisation/ protective clothing/ no dogs to reduce introduction of disease/ non-native species
3.   visitors with guides only to restrict disturbance/ raise awareness
4.   removal of waste to prevent contamination/ pollution
5.   treatment of sewage before discharge into the sea to prevent pollution
6.   no mining/ resource exploitation to prevent habitat destruction/ pollution
7.   no military use/ weapons testing to prevent damage to biotic and abiotic environment
8.   restrictions on fishing/ monitoring of fish populations to reduce over-exploitation/ food chain impacts
9.   all activities subject to Environmental Impact Analysis to mitigate damage
10.  named methods to control greenhouse gas concentrations to reduce global climate change/ named impact
11.  control of ODS/CFCs to reduce Antarctic ozone depletion/ reduce UV impacts to phytoplankton/ wildlife
12.  freedom of scientific investigation to increase understanding of impacts/ conservation

Allow two marks for named protocol/ organisation:

e.g.
*   Antarctic Treaty (1959)/ Madrid Protocol (1998/1991)
*   CCALMS (The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) (1982)
*   IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators) (1990)
*   IWC (International Whaling Commission)
*   Montreal Protocol

[A: named designation e.g. ASMAs, ASPAs]

Question 20

Although ozone depletion has occurred globally, it has been most severe over Antarctica.

Why has ozone depletion been most severe over Antarctica? (2 marks)

Answer 20

Conditions in Antarctica:
*   Formation of polar vortex
*   Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs)
*   Reactions on the PSCs
*   Increased abundance of chlorine
*   Low temperatures required for ozone depletion

Question 21

Antarctica is threatened by many human activities.

Describe how human activities, other than ozone depletion, threaten Antarctica and explain how the threats may be reduced. (9 marks)

Answer 21

Threats to the Antarctic area

*   Climate change
*   Ozone depletion
*   Tourism
*   Research
*   Overfishing
*   Future mineral and resource exploitation

Management of threats to Antarctica

Implementation of global policies to reduce environmental impacts:
*   Antarctic Treaty (1959)
*   Controls on tourism, e.g. maximum of 100 visitors to shore
*   Waste management – control of and removal of waste products
*   Sewage discharged into sea where it can disperse and breakdown

No military activities

*   Except supporting scientific research
No resource exploitation
*   No commercial mineral exploitation allowed
Control of living organisms
*   CCAMLS