KSA201 - W10

Antarctic Inspection Mechanisms, Nuclear Activities in Antarctica

Nuclear bombs have been tested in Arctic.

True or false?

True, mainly by the Soviet Union and US

Peaceful nuclear explosions are…?

Small-scale nuclear explosions that are commonly used for civilian excavation/earthworks.

From Operation Argus (1958), what was proved to be disrupted during nuclear testing?

The denotation of a nuclear detonation at an extremely high altitude could produce a shell of electrons surrounding the Earth. This radiation could degrade the reception and transmission of radar signals.

Describe the ‘Vela Incident’ (1979). Does it have any implications with the ATS?

A US Satellite, ‘Vela 6911’, identified a double flash near the South African Prince Edward and Marion Islands. It’s unsure who was behind the suspected nuclear test, but South Africa and Israel is not a party to either the ATS or CCAMLR at the time. The test location is outside the Antarctic Treaty area (46 degrees South), and CCAMLR was not negotiated until 1980, so Prince Edward Island is not considered an ATS territory.

Is the Antarctic Treaty the only prohibitor of nuclear testing in Antarctica? Explain

The Antarctic Treaty is not the only one banning nuclear testing.

• Treaty Banning Nuclear Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water, aka. ‘Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT)’ (1963)

  • Did not ban nuclear testing underground explicitly, but does prohibit those explosions if it produced radioactive debris outside the territory of the State where the explosions were conducted

• The South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, aka. ‘The Treaty of Rarotonga’ (1985)

  • Under Article 6, state Parties that signed onto the regional treaty must prevent nuclear testing in their territories

• The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) 1996

  • Bans all nuclear explosions, for military or peaceful purposes, in all places on Earth. Each State Party refrains from participating, encouraging or causing nuclear weapon test explosions

  • Text is agreed in the mid-1990s, but has yet to come into legal effect without sufficient ratifications (i.e., China, Egypt, Iran, Israel and US have signed, but not ratified)

Various regional treaties have resulted in nuclear-weapon-free areas and zones globally.