| Task 1 |
Look at the following image and write a description for the following:
Why? When? Who? Where? What? Click here for image
Read the following if you need more information: Click here for information |
| Task 2 |
Find the answer to the following questions:
What is Krill?
What is a Skua?
How many eggs does the Emperor penguin normally lay?
Do seals use the ice for?
What work is done on the ice? Click here to find out
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| Task 3 |
Read the following text and answer the following:
Which is the largest of the whales?
Which whale is able to hold its breath for 90 minutes?
Where does the Right whale get its name from?
What do Humpback Whales eat?
Is the Killer whale a whale? Explain your answer.
What is the difference between Baleen and Toothed whales?Click here to find out |
| Task 4 |
Fact file: Using the sheet provided, create a list of six items, for each of the following:
1)Weather, 2)Landscape,
3)Resources, 4)Human useClick here to find out
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| Picture Gallery 1 |
| An amazing collection of images of animals, ice flows, terrain and human activitiesClick here to view images |
| Picture Gallery 2 |
| A gallery of images from the Australian Antarctic DivisionClick here to view images |
| Picture Gallery 3 |
| A gallery of images from Cool AntarcticaClick here to view images |
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| Sunday, October 15, 2006 |
 Geography Web Enquiry on Antarctica
Your Task: You are going to be a reporter for a Magazine. You have been asked to produce a fact file posing the question:
Remember that some people will have very little knowledge of this area of the world and might even have incorrect images in their minds of polar bears and igloos, so you need to include plenty of background information and pictures. The fact file should have the following four sections.1. Introduction -
A) How big is it? B) Describe the climate (include temperature, wind and precipitation) C) Hours of daylight in winter and summer? D) Scenery on the coast and inland? Plants and wildlife on land and in the sea?Click here: for some facts about Antarctica2. Ownership or Control? -
A) Who owns or controls Antarctica? B) What treaties are in place at the moment over the area?C) Why is the treaty important? Click here: to find out more about the Antarctic Treaty3. The Reasons for Development - A) What types of natural resources can be found in Antarctica? Look in particular at minerals and fishing. B) Why would some countries wish to exploit these resources? C) Why would any of this development be very difficult? D) Tourism - why do people want to visit Antarctica? Where would they go? How would they get there? Click here: for information about tourism in Antarctica.4. The Reasons for not Developing -
A) Describe the types of problems that might occur if minerals were mined and fishing were allowed on a bigger scale. B) Refer to the effects on the environment (ecosystems, sea, landscape) and bring in the term pollution. C) Would exploitation be sustainable on a small scale in just some areas? D) What problem could tourism bring to the area? E) Think about the needs of tourists and the danger of the environment. Click here: for information about conservation in Antarctica.Click here: fo further information.5. The Decision - Should development be allowed in the future? There are a few options:a. No development at allb. Limited development
c. Some development in just some areasd. DevelopmentPlease give reasons for your decision. How would you like this to be carried out?
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| Friday, October 13, 2006 |
 The Antarctic Treaty
There are few places on Earth where there has been never been war, where the environment is fully protected, and where scientific research has priority. But the whole of the Antarctic continent is like this. A land which the Antarctic Treaty parties call a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science. Click here to read more.
The Antarctic Treaty came into force on 23 June 1961 after ratification by the twelve countries then active in Antarctic science. The Treaty covers the area south of 60°S latitude. Its objectives are simple yet unique in international relations.
They are: - to demilitarize Antarctica, to establish it as a zone free of nuclear tests and the disposal of radioactive waste, and to ensure that it is used for peaceful purposes only;
- to promote international scientific cooperation in Antarctica;
- to set aside disputes over territorial sovereignty.
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| Thursday, October 12, 2006 |
 Antarctica Animals
No land-based vertebrate animals inhabit Antarctica. Invertebrates, especially mites and ticks, which can tolerate the lower temperatures, exist in the Antarctic Peninsula but are still considered rare. The surrounding ocean, however, abounds in living creatures. Large numbers of whales feed on the rich marine life, especially krill. Six species of seals (including the crabeater, elephant, and leopard) and about 12 species of birds live and breed in the Antarctic. The most prominent inhabitant of the Antarctic is the penguin. A flightless bird, it lives on the pack ice and in the oceans around Antarctica and breeds on the land or ice surfaces along the coast. Most typical are the Ad�lie and Emperor penguins |
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 Scientific Exploration
Britain has a 200 year history of Antarctic research and exploration, starting with the voyages of Captain James Cook. Early commercial interests and exploration for its own sake were gradually replaced by the realisation that scientific studies of the Antarctic have value for all of humanity. Modern Antarctic science provides information on systems and processes which affect the lives of everyone on the planet. |
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 Resources
There are coal deposits found along the coast of Antarctica. It is also very wide spread throughout the Transantarctic Mountains. These deposits were formed between 35 million and 55 million years ago when Antarctica was covered by ancient swamps. Coal forms in swamps as plants die and are buried before they can be completely decomposed. They are then covered by other sediments such as sand and mud. This burial allows the hydrocarbons in the coal to be preserved for future generations to use.
Coal is used as a source of direct heat and also to generate electricity in coal burning power plants. The main problem of developing coal in Antarctica is that the cost of mining and delivering the coal is so much higher than the cost of coal in the rest of the world market. It may be possible for coal to be used in some small research stations for a source of heat. |
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 Human Impact
It is important to appreciate that human activities can impact on Antarctica as the result of both local and global actions. Fishing, for example, is a local activity whereas damage to the ozone layer is due to the release of synthetic ozone-depleting substances in other parts of the world. Waste from Antarctic research activities has been a major local source of pollution in the past. The Environmental Protocol provides for the discharge into the sea of sewage and food waste, but all other waste has to be removed from Antarctica, usually by ship. Raw sewage contains potentially dangerous bacteria and viruses, detergents, solvents and metals, and nitrates and phosphates which have implications on the health of the ecosystem into which they are discharged. Significant sewage discharges can also carpet the sea floor smothering substrate-dwelling organisms as is seen in the vicinity of the McMurdo Station sewerage outlet. |
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| Loreto Information |
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Name: Mr Azopardi
Address: Gibraltar
Tel: Use the links provided to find the information and google images but you do not need to navigate away from these.
Click for contact details
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