Humpback
whale.
Emperor penguins
and chick.
By sienna smith
ANTARCTICA
Halley
Research
Station.
Rothera
Research
Station.
Amery ice
shelf.
62,620
kilometre
Ross sea
MAP
Southern ocean.
This is the divided up
Antarctic treaty chart
of Antarctica.
Antarctic Treaty
Antarctica is the only country in the world that has no nations and no one
definitely owns any part of it. Although many countries have claimed parts.
the Antarctic treaty is in charge and governs all the actions that people in
Antarctica make.
There are 12 nations that on the 1st of December 1959 signed the Antarctic
treaty in Washington D.C. The treaty is an agreement between countries to
help keep Antarctica in good condition because if we don’t there be a
significant rise in sea levels. Ever since the treaty was established lots of
countries have wanted parts of Antarctica and help to keep it from melting.
The treaty only runs for a certain amount of time and after that time is up
there will be many countries that will want to sign the new treaty to help
keep Antarctica in good condition.
Human impact on Antarctica
Humans have had a very large impact on Antarctica over hundreds of years. They have
impacted by whaling, sealing, fishing hunting and polluting. 50% of whales that were
being killed had been coming from the Antarctic region. The fur seals were nearly
extinct because people from all over the world were attracted to all the amount of
marine life and were killing them by the dozen. The seals were finally protected in
1933. the whales that were being targeted were the ones people would get the most
money and profit for. The humpback and blue whale were protected in 1960 and ten
years later the fin and sei whales were protected. Unlike the seals the whales have not
reproduced and will need numerous years to do that. Visitors and tourists are melting
the ice when they decide to light a fire to keep themselves warm. They are also
polluting the water when they come in by boat and are also helping to break the ice
away. The scientists are trying to preserve Antarctica but yet they’re digging large
holes to find how old some of the ice gets.
Did You Know…
the scientific name for a colossal squid of Antarctica
is Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni.
That Antarctica is classed as the biggest dessert in
the world because it is dry not wet as many people
think.
That in many lakes in Antarctica below the water
grow moss, fungi and algae forming an underwater
forest.
There are no flowering plants in Antarctica because
it is to cold and harsh.
That the wind in Antarctica is being tested because it
is a potential fossil fuel.
It only rains 8mm of rain in Antarctica Per year.
The wind in Antarctica is being tested because it is a
potential fossil fuel.
Insects that live in Antarctica live in limited parts and
numbers.
Lichens grow on rocks which makes them look
colourful.
Douglas Mawson
In 1911 wile Scott and Amundsen had plans to conquer the extremes and as they were
establishing their bases, Douglas Mawson was organizing an expedition to explore
the southern ocean. After discussions over in Europe in 1910 Scott was willing to
include Mawson in the Terra Nova Expedition. Douglas refused this offer because he
wanted to lead his own discoveries. He was headed for New Zealand and Gauss Berg.
On the 4th of November the boat of Aurora reached Hobart and stayed there for a
while. On the 2nd of December the Aurora and its crew set of for Macquarie island.
During the night a large storm hit the boat and enormous waves put them of coarse.
Lots of the crew got seasick. by the 8th of December the storm had died down. On the
11 of December the ship had reached the island they were looking for. They spent a
few hours examining the island before returning to the ship. Many months later
Douglas Mawson and his crew discovered Antarctica in 1911 at the age of thirty. His
aim was to explore the coastal line closest to Australia.
What is hypothermia.
Hypothermia is when the heat in our bodies drops. It usually is
caused when your body is exposed to very cold conditions.
Some of the things that can happen when you get
hypothermia is parts of your body such as your nose, toes and
fingers may freeze and fall of. To keep warm in the cold and
harsh conditions in Antarctica you will need to take: warm
shirts, warm pants, gloves, warm socks, snow parkers, warm
blankets and hot water bottles, hiking boots, beanies and
snow goggles. You will need to take food[ tin food]and water.
So when in Antarctica remember to keep warm and don’t
expose your body to the cold conditions to help prevent
hypothermia.
Weddell Seals
Weddell seals are earless mammals that live in Antarctica. The live on ice to avoid their
predators the killer whale and the leopard seal. They are one of the most common
seen seals in Antarctica because they are often found in groups. It is estimated that
there are 800,000 Weddell seals throughout the Antarctic region.
Both the male and female seals grow to around 3m long and can weigh up 500kg. A male
Weddell reaches maturity from 3 to 6 years and a female from 2 to 6 years. Weddell
seals peak breeding season is between September and November. They will
normally breed in groups on vast spaces of ice to avoid their predators. When they are
mating it is fierce competition between males.
The seals have a varied diet which includes: Atlantic cod, invertebrates, octopuses, squid
and sometimes krill. The leopard seal will feed mainly on the sub adults and pups.
NO
When the ice
breakers{ships} come
to bring the tourists
they break all the ice
apart which doesn’t
help preserve the ice
but help melt it
The fuel from the boat
pollutes the water which
could kill the animals.
NO
MORE
TOURISTS!
Boats leave behind
old oil drums that
may still have some
left that can leak and
add to pollution that
could have been
prevented.
SO SAY NO TO
TOURISTS IN
ANTARCTICA
Scientists are
trying to
preserve the
continent, but
yet they are
digging into the
ice to find out
how old it is.
YES
POST CARD.
ANTARCTIC
ICE BURG!
THE END!
So help preserve
Antarctica.
By Sienna Smith.