Case study - Antarctica

Question 1

Geography of Antarctica

Answer 1

• 98% ice
• temps reach -60 in winter
• only 16cm of rain per year

Question 2

Antarctica convergence zone

Answer 2

• warm water meets cold water
• the meeting of water creates a productive ecosystem

Question 3

Climate change as a threat to Antarctica

Answer 3

• warms at a rate 5x 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 and sea levels rising

Question 4

Whaling and fishing as a threat to Antarctica

Answer 4

• 1930s Antarctic fur seal almost extinct
• 5% of blue whales we had 100 years ago
• whales are very slow breeders
• 200,000 tonnes of krill gets fished anually, which is unsustainable

Question 5

Tourism as a threat to Antarctica

Answer 5

• 1990s 5,000 per year but in 2014 it was 44,000
• last chance rush
• brings waste and pollution
• brings invasive species
• mostly on cruise ships

Question 6

Mining as a threat to Antarctica

Answer 6

• large mineral deposits, rich in iron
• oil in southern ocean
• they are valuable but extraction is banned under international law
• hard to do either way due to extremely harsh weather

Question 7

IWC

Answer 7

• international whaling commission
• regulate whaling
• pause on commercial whaling 1982
• it isn’t mandatory to join so rules aren’t effective for non members
• countries like Iceland and Norway still partake in commercial whailing

Question 8

The Antarctic treaty

Answer 8

• 1959
• all states share sovereignty
• no military activity
• share research
• reducing threat of tragedy of the commons

Question 9

The Madrid protocol

Answer 9

• 1991
• bans mining
• protects environment
• gets reviewed in 2050 so could be removed

Question 10

Paris climate change agreement

Answer 10

• 2016
• reduce climate change by 2 degrees

Question 11

Action against tourism

Answer 11

• 1991
• rules and regulations given
• waste must be brought back
• number limits

Question 12

Greenpeace

Answer 12

• trying to protect the fragile ecosystems and its wildlife
• campaigning for a 1.8 million square kilometere ocean sanctuary (it would be the largest protected area on Earth)

Question 13

What is a global common?

Answer 13

An area outside national jurisdiction that is accessible to all nations and requires collective management like Antarctica

Question 14

What proportion of earths freshwater is stored in Antarctica?

Answer 14

Around 70%

Question 15

Name two iconic animal species in Antarctica

Answer 15

Penguins and seals

Question 16

Why is melting sea ice a positive feedback loop?

Answer 16

Less ice = less albedo = more heat absorption = more melting

Question 17

What is one key role Antarctica plays in environmental science?

Answer 17

Its a critical site for climate change research and environmental monitoring

Question 18

What are the environmental impacts of scientific research stations?

Answer 18

Waste generation and habitat disruption

Question 19

What is the main concern about krill fishing in Antarctica?

Answer 19

It threatens the base of the marine food chain

Question 20

What does the IAATO do?

Answer 20

Sets guidelines for responsible tourism

Question 21

Give an example of an IAATO guideline

Answer 21

visitors must maintain a minimum distance of 5 meters from wildlife

Question 22

What is the role of the UNEP in Antarctica?

Answer 22

Supports sustainable development and protection under the Antarctic Treaty

Question 23

Who sets the guidelines on tourism?

Answer 23

IAATO

Question 24

Who supports sustainable development and protection under the Antarctic Treaty?

Answer 24

UNEP

Question 25

What is the tragedy of the commons?

Answer 25

Shared unregulated resources (the commons) are overexploited by individuals acting in their own self-interest, leading to depletion or environmental degradation.