antarctica

• location of antarctica

  • within antarctic circle
  • 4th largest continent
  • 97% covered in ice
  • 2300m average height above sea level
  • lowest temperature recorded was -89 degrees Celsius
• threats to antarctica - climate change

  • East anarctica ice sheet is thickening due to greater evaporation and more snow
  • west antarctica ice sheet is shrinking - sea levels rising
  • temperatures in Antarctica have increased by 0.5 degrees per decade in the past 60 years (5 times faster than anywhere else in the world)
  • southern ocean temperatues increased by 1 degrees since 1955
  • increased ocean acidification due to increased levels of atmospheric CO2 and acid rain - loss of marine organisms
• threats to antarctica - fishing and whaling

  • whales were nearly fished to extinction in the 1900s
  • whaling had to stop due to dangerously low numbers
  • Russian and Japanese exploitation of cod and krill
  • ships destroy marine habitats
  • unsustainable fishing practices used to meet high demand
  • large toll to antarctic food web
• threats to antarctica - mineral exploitation

  • large mineral deposits under Antarctica
  • very inaccessible
  • future demand for resources may put pressure on antarctic reserves
  • banned by antarctic treaty
• threats to antarctica - scientific research

  • 30 countries have researchers based in Antarctica
  • ice cores extracted to investigate climate change
  • some disturbance to wildlife
  • vehicle exhausts
  • construction of buildings
  • fuel storage
  • disposal of waste
  • scientists well briefed about how to care for the environment
• threats to antarctica - tourism

  • tourist numbers have risen to 27k in 2012
  • tourist season concentrated between November and March - collides with breeding season
  • tourists transported by ship - oil leaks and crashes
  • tourists well briefed - difficult to enforce behaviour
  • rules laid down by International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators
  • fragile ecosystems disturbed
• terms of Antarctic Treaty System

  • free access for research
  • no military activity
  • no dumping of nuclear waste
• COMMISSION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ANTARCTIC MARINE LIVING RESOURCES

  • sustainable harvests for fishing
  • challenging illegal fishing
  • Protected area - 94000km^2 of ocean
  • manage vulnerable marine ecosystems
• protocol on environmental protection (Madrid protocol)

  • ban all mineral resource activity
  • monitor human activity to minimise damage
  • no invasive species introduced
  • rules for waste management
  • use of oil and sewage disposal limited to decrease marine pollution
  • protected areas
  • LIABILITY
• International whaling commission

  • conserve whale stocks
  • NO AUTHORITY
  • voluntary organisation
  • estasblished the southern ocean whale sanctuary - 50 millon km
• • The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) was founded by a group of NGOs that were concerned about the impact of human activity in the region such as Greenpeace and WWF
• • ASOC promotes scientific research and the conservation and sustainable use of the area
  • It raises awareness of environmental issues in the region and fights for stronger environmental protection
  • ASOC has actively promoted the establishment of marine protected areas to conserve and protect the diverse and unique wildlife