P&E CS - Antarctica

where is antarctica located and how large is it?

• most southern continent in world containing south pole

• stretches 14 million km squared

• majority covered in ice (90% of world’s surface freshwater)

what is the temperature and precipitation in antarctica?

one of the most extreme climates on planet

• average temp -40ºC (-49 in south pole)

• also one of driest areas on earth

  • coastal 400-600mm rainfall per year

  • inland less than 50

• therefor can be considered as a desert

what is the wind in antarctica like?

winds are very strong, known as the katabatic winds, strongest in steep areas

60-70mph winds 40 days of the year

has reached 199

What are the seasonal changes in antarctica?

as it is in the southern hemisphere it’s winter occurs in the typical summer (march-october)

as it is also at th ebottom of the earth there is 6 months of light and 6 months of darkness

what is the level of ecosystems?

due to hard conditions is not very biodiverse and only plants such as moss and lichen grow

very few land animals (only insects)

southern ocean is much more diverse with wales, penguins, fish etc

what natural resources does it have?

• abundance of marine life

• rich in minerals

  • large reserves of oil in southern ocean

  • iron ore in transantarctic mountains

what is a global common

resources that are shared and accessible by all, with no single governing country or power.

Why is antarctica vulnerable as a global common?

• increasing demand for resources (such as fossil fuels, minerals and fish) means it may be utilised more

• fragile/highly adapted climate means small changes can have huge impacts on ecosystems

  • makes it even more vulnerable to climate change

means there is a global responsibility to protect it from changes

what are the 4 major threats to antarctica?

climate change

fishing and whaling

mineral/resource extraction

tourism and scientific research

How is climate change impacting antarctica? (4 ways)

• warmer seas/atmospheres lead to melting ice sheets - leads to see level rise and global floods

• animals and plants are highly adapted so change can reduce livability. certain species are already in decline (adelie penguins). may also lead to invasive species colonising and migration patterns changing - all effects the food chain

• CO2 is released from melting ice that was previously stored there increasing global temperatures more

• reduced albedo effect creating pos feedback loop due to less ice sheets

How is fishing impacting antarctica?

under threat from unsustainable fishing disrupting the food chain if the fragile environment

fishing

• overfishing removes vital animals in the already limited food chain

• krill is the most fished marine animal 150,000-200,000 tons fished annually (mainly in antarctica)

• despite regulations illegal unreported fishing still occurs

How is whaling impacting antarctica?

whaling

• whaling and sealing in the past are still impacting the ecosystem today

• started in the 18th century but today most is banned

• wale populations remain at reduced and endangered levels as whales are slow breeders (1930 almost 30,000 wales killed)

How is mineral/resource exploitation impacting antarctica

all mining is banned in antarctica and would be difficult due to harsh conditions and thick ice. But with more fossil fuels being needed is under threat

• oil exploitation disrupts habitats due to the infrastructure that comes with it

• oil spills would be detrimental and the fragile ecosystems would not be able to recover

• metal and mineral exploitation damages environment and scares away wildlife

• use of fossil fuels contributes to global warming

How is tourism impacting antarctica?

tourism is a growing industry with the increased demand for ‘extreme tourism’

• 2009-2010 37,000 visited antarctica, mostly on cruises

• tourists travelling by air and sea leads to increased emissions and see ice destruction

• may also lead to trampling of plants and scarring of wildlife

• litter dropped will be in the nutrient cycle for long periods of time

How is scientific research impacting antarctica?

very important in antarctica with lots of environmental data collected there, however…

• with research there is lots of equipment such as research bases

• dogs such as huskie were important for transport in research however had to be banned in the continent due to the threats to wildlife

What is an example of a tourism event that impacted antarctica?

2007 MS explorer crash left a mile long oil spill disrupting penguin breeding grounds

Who governs antarctica?

4 examples

managed by variety global institutions that ensure it is sustainably managed as a global common

• the UN

• international whaling commission

• antarctic treaty system

• convention on the conservation of antarctic marine living resources (CCAMLR)

what is the role of the UN in governing antarctica?

UN has potential to play an important role in governing antarctica with its ability to set global laws and regulations but doesn’t play much of a direct role at the moment

• UN environment programme (UNEP) has attended some meetings concerning antarctica but it’s legislation and goals do not involve it

• however work indirectly contributes to it’s protection with regulations around ozone depletion and global warming

what is the role of the international whaling commision in governing antarctica?

set up in 1946, enforcing its regulations on 89 states including the southern ocean

• setting catching limits and hunting restrictions

• work with scientific committee to research and study whaling

• coordinating yearly meetings

• providing funds for research and conservation

What regulations have been enforced by the IWC?

whaling moratorium in 1882 banning all commercial whaling on all species until further notice

1994 set up southern whale sanctuary banning all whaling in the raes focusing on protecting calves and females

What are 2 criticisms to IWC has faced?

• member states choose freely to be in the IWC and can opt out, so no penalties can be enforced

• countries can object and not abide to the regulations despite the IWC being aware of any activity that is happening.

What is the role of the antarctic treaty system in governing antarctica?

collection of agreements that work to protect the antarctic through global governance, there are multiple agreements made in the treaty.

what are 2 of the agreements of the ATC?

antarctic treaty 1959

• 53 parties

• states antarctica should be sued for peaceful means

• research can be conducted but must be shared

• all stations can be inspected at any time

protocol of environment protection 1991

• bans all activity relating to mineral resources aside from scientific purposes

• later added waste management and marine pollution regulations

what is the role of CCAMLR in governing antarctica?

convention and conservation of antarctic marine living resources

• meet annually to discuss issues of fisheries etc

• there is a scientific committee within that provides advice and information

• responsible for conservation, monitoring and researching the south ocean

• ecosystem monitoring programme to look for any changes

What NGOs are in operation in antarctica

ASOC

Greenpeace

what is ASOC and it’s role in antarctica

formed after concerns of secret negotiations between parties of the atlantic treaty around mineral and gas prospects

• original role was to convince governments to ban mineral exploitation and allow NGOs a role in governance

• granted observer status in 1991 meaning it can attend meetings with the treaty

• continues to campaign for protection of antarctica.