AQA A level Geography- Antarctica

Antarctica is covered by...

The Antarctic Treaty Systems

Global common

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

Why should we protect global commons?

They are likely to be exploited, especially as the demand for resources increases e.g. overfishing.

Where is Antarctica?

Most of Antarctica is south of the Antarctic circle, except of parts of the East Antarctic coastline and the Antarctic Peninsula which extends northwards.

What is comprised into the southern (Antarctic) ocean?

The southern portions of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.

What is the Antarctic convergence zone?

A curve encircling Antarctica where cold northward flowing Antarctic waters meet the relatively warmer waters of the sub-Antarctic.

How big is the Antarctic Convergence zone?

32 to 48km wide, extending across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans between the 48th and 61st parallels of south latitude.

Discuss currents in the Antarctic Convergence zone

The cold, northward flowing Antarctic waters predominantly sink beneath sub-Antarctic waters. This forms areas of mixing and upwelling currents which are very high in marine productivity, especially Antarctic krill.

The Antarctic Convergence separates...

• two distinct hydrological regions

• areas of distinct climate

• areas of distinctive wild life

What is the Antarctic Circumpolar Current?

The largest surface current in the world which blocks warm waters travelling southwards. It flows in an eastward direction being driven by westerly wind, and is otherwise known as the West Wind Drift.

What is the East Wind Drift?

A lesser current, close to Antarctica, flowing in the opposite direction westwards and driven by easterly polar winds. It is featured prominently in the Ross and Weddell seas.

What is the Antarctic Divergence?

The area where East WD and West WD meet.

What percentage of Antarctica is covered by glacial ice?

97%

Describe the terrain of Antarctica?

Mountainous and rocky

How is the continent divided?

Into East (greater) and West (lesser) by the Transantarctic mountains

Describe the Transantarctic mountains

The range consists of peaks above 4000m and divides the East and West Antarctic Ice sheets.

Compare the East and West Ice sheet

The East ice sheet is larger, thicker and older.

Describe the Ellsworth Mountains

They're found in West Antarctica and contain the continents highest peak- Mount Vinson (4892m).

Why is Antarctica the highest continent?

It has an average height of 2300m above sea level due to the thickness of it's ice sheets.