Antarctica case study

• What % of the world's ice is in Antarctica?

  90%
• What is the average temperature in Antarctica?


  -49 degrees Celsius
• What are the four main threats to Antarctica?


  Climate change, fishing and whaling, search for minerals, tourism and research.
• In the past 5 decades how much has Antarctica warmed?

  3 degrees celsius.
• How have penguin species been impacted by ice sheets melting?

  Their population has declined.
• Sine the 1970s how much has the krill population declined by and why?

  Sine the 1970s, krill population has reduced by 80% as they are very dependent on the sea ice.
• Since 1990s how much has sea level rose annually?

  Since the 1990s, sea level has rose by 3mm a year.
• How does climate change cause ocean acidification?

  Ocean acidification occurs when carbon dioxide in the air reacts with salt water and produces carbonic acid, which depletes the amount of calcium carbonate in the water.
• When did whaling decline and why?

  Whaling declined in 1982 when regulations were installed that banned commercial whaling.
• Why does it take time for whale species to regenerate?

  Whales are slow breeders so it takes time for their population to recover.
• What type of minerals are in Antarctica and where are they found?

  In the Transantarctic mountains there are underground deposits of coal and iron ore.
• What is beneath the Southern ocean?

  Beneath the Southern ocean there are large oil reserves.
• How can tourism threaten Antarctica?


  Increased shipping and air travel can lead to water and air pollution swell as oil spills.
• When was the Antarctic treaty formed and what did it propose?


  The Antarctic treaty was formed in 1959 and was an agreement on how to sustainable manage Antarctica.
• How many countries are in the Antarctic treaty?

  The Antarctic treaty is signed by 53 countries.
• What are three rules in the Antarctic treaty?


  Antarctica should only be used for peaceful reasons, Antarctica should stay in the global commons and countries should cooperate on scientific research in Antarctica by sharing plans and results.
• When was the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic treaty signed and what did it focus on?

  The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic treaty was signed in 1991 and focused on protecting Antarcticas fragile environment.
• What did the PEPAT do to achieve its aim?


  Banned all mining in Antarctica, regulated waste disposal and prevented pollution.
• What are the two global institutions Antarctica is governed by?


  The International Whaling Commission and the United Nations Environment Programme.
• What is the IWC responsible for?


  The IWC is responsible for regulating whaling and maintaining a sustainable whale population.
• What is the UNEP responsible for?

  The UNEP is responsible for reporting activity in Antarctica to the UN.
• What does the UNEP do?


  The UNEP aims to stop illegal fishing and conserve the Antarctic ecosystem.
• What is the Whaling Moratorium the IWC introduced?


  The Whaling Moratorium banned all commercial whaling globally and monitored the current whaling populations.
• What evidence is there to suggest that the Whaling Moratorium is poorly enforced?


  In 2018, Japanese whalers killed over 300 whales in Antarctica for scientific research, despite the ban.
• How do NGOs benefit Antarctica?


  NGOs monitor and enforce rules in Antarctica.
• What is the main NGO in Antarctica called?

  Antarctica and Southern Ocean Coalition.
• When was the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition formed and why?


  ASOC was formed in 1978 as the was a concern that some countries were planning on making extracting oil, gas and minerals legal in Antartica.