An introduction to Antarctica

1. An introduction to Antarctica Aim: To understand the location and key physical features of the continent of Antarctica. Write down as many words that you associate with Antarctica

2. Did you get the following words? • South Pole • Cold • Ice • Glacier • Explorers • Scientists • Penguins • Whales What about these words? • Desert – Parts of Antarctica form the largest desert on earth. It gets almost no precipitation each year • Volcano – Antarctica has had many volcanic eruptions in the past. Currently there are two large active volcanoes on the continent. • Climate change – Ice cores from Antarctica are a good guide to past climate change. Current sea ice amounts indicate changes in temperature from one year to the next.

3. Some photos of Antarctica

4. The Dry Valley – where it never even snows.

5. Much of Antarctica is covered in ice sheets – this is then buffeted by the wind.

6. Antarctica is actually very mountainous – some of these mountains reach through the ice.

7. While there is very little life in the centre of the continent, many species live around the edge.

8. Task Write a paragraph describing what Antarctica is like. You must include information on: • Location • Climate • Key physical features • Species (and why there are so few)

9. Map of Antarctica 1. Stick your map in. 2. Mark on the following places: • South Pole • Vostok • Scott Base • Halley 3. Write a list of the things that you would need to take on a voyage to Antarctica. 4. Explain what preparation you would need to do before leaving.

10. What does the Antarctic sound like? • Click here!

11. As explorers reached more and more of the continent they tried to claim it for their respective countries. By the 1950s 7 countries had claimed part of the continent. However, many people felt that this was wrong and that Antarctica should not be owned by individual countries. • In 1959 a group of 12 countries (Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, USSR, UK and USA) got together to write a series of laws on how Antarctica should be governed in the future. • The laws of the ‘Antarctic Treaty’ can be seen on the resource sheet. • Many other countries have joined the original 12 in signing the agreement – although most of these countries are MEDCs.

12. Original claims on Antarctica

13. Title: The Antarctic Treaty • Produce a spider diagram showing at least 5 of the main aspects of the Antarctic Treaty. • What happens if countries don’t agree over Antarctica – or even break the rules? • How many countries have signed up to the Treaty? • Describe the extra agreements that have been added to the Treaty. • Why do you think that all mining is banned? Ext • Do you think that the Treaty has been successful? • What other laws would you add to the Treaty – fully explain your ideas.

14. Discussion The following criticisms have been made about the Antarctic Treaty: • ‘The Antarctic Treaty is a rich man’s club led by a group of MEDCs for their own benefit’. • ‘There are no benefits for countries that are unable to pay for the expensive scientific programmes in the Antarctic’. • ‘Antarctica should be governed as a ‘world park’ by the United Nations’. • ‘Scientific bases are a disguise for territorial land claims if the Treaty was to break down’.