Antarctica
Location
Governance
Climate
Vulnerability
Major threats facing Antarctica
Antarctica is the southern most continent that holds 90% of the Earths freshwater
Antarctica's climate is entirely unique, it is one of the coldest places on Earth with temperatures averaging around -40 degrees
It is the driest place on Earth
There is little precipitation and the UK's precipitation is 5x Antarctica's
The Antarctic winds are very strong, they are known as katabatics
The ecosystem
Antarctica's ecosystem is not very biodiverse due to the very harsh conditions, only hardy plants such as mosses and lichen can grow and there are hardly any animals (only insects
The Southern Ocean is very diverse in marine life with lots of fish, krill, penguins, whales and seals
The Influence of NGOs on Antarctic Governance
Antarctica is threatened by a range of issues, and its status as a global commons may enhance it's vulnerability. Therefore, Antarctica is governed by global institutions that ensure it is sustainably managed
The IWC
The United Nations
CCAMLR
The Antarctic Treaty
Due to the environment and resources in Antarctica, the idea of this hub of resources being a 'common' makes it vulnerable.
There is a high demand of resources such as fossil fuels and minerals and fish, which Antarctica can help to provide
The climate of Antarctica is incredibly fragile, it is highly adapted to the extreme environment and even the slightest change can have devastating knock on effects on the rest of the ecosystem making it incredibly vulnerable to climate change
Climate Change
Fishing and Whaling
Mineral and Resource Exploitation
Tourism and scientific research
Warmer sea and atmospheric temperatures cause ice sheets to melt and huge icebergs to break away, this increases the sea level causing global flooding
Animals and Plant s in the Antarctic are heavily impacted by changing climates as they are heavily adapted to the extreme Antarctic environment . Migration patterns have been impacted and some species have declined such as the Adelie penguin which has impacted the Antarctic food web
CO2 stored in the ice sheets is released as they melt, exacerbating the greenhouse effect
The Ice-Albedo effect is lessened
Antarctica