AQA A-level Geography · 3.2.1

Antarctica and the globalisation critique

50 exam-style questions with answers for 3.2.1 Antarctica and the globalisation critique in AQA A-level Geography (spec 7037). Practise with flashcards, a topic quiz, a random quiz across the course, 5 crosswords, or read every question and answer below. Not official AQA material.

All 50 questions and answers

Question 1 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Geography of Antarctica
Describe the physical geography of Antarctica. [4 marks]
Answer:
Any four from: the continent lies around the South Pole, mostly south of 60°S (1); its area is about 14 million km², larger than Europe (1); about 98% is covered by an ice sheet over 2 km thick on average (1); it holds about 70% of the world's fresh water as ice (1); the Transantarctic Mountains divide East and West Antarctica (1); the Antarctic Peninsula stretches towards South America (1).
Question 2 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Geography of Antarctica
Describe the climate of Antarctica. [4 marks]
Answer:
Any four from: it is the coldest continent, with a record low of −89.2°C at Vostok (1); the interior is a polar desert with less than 50 mm of precipitation a year (1); katabatic winds flow off the ice sheet at high speed (1); coastal areas are milder, and temperatures on the Peninsula can rise above 0°C in summer (1); the poles have months of continuous daylight in summer and darkness in winter (1); the ice has a high albedo and reflects most sunlight (1).
Question 3 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Geography of Antarctica
Explain why Antarctica is so cold. [3 marks]
Answer:
It is at a very high latitude, so the sun is low in the sky and there is long winter darkness (1); the ice sheet is high, with an average elevation of about 2,000 m, and temperature falls with height (1); the white surface reflects most incoming solar radiation, which gives it a high albedo (1).
Question 4 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Geography of Antarctica
Explain what is meant by the Antarctic Convergence and why it is important. [3 marks]
Answer:
A boundary at about 50–60°S where cold Antarctic water sinks beneath warmer sub-Antarctic water (1); it marks a sharp change in temperature and marine ecosystems (1); nutrient-rich waters support plankton and krill, so the Southern Ocean has abundant wildlife (1).
Question 5 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Geography of Antarctica
Describe the role of krill in the Southern Ocean food web. [3 marks]
Answer:
Krill feed on phytoplankton, which grow in the nutrient-rich water (1); they are food for whales, seals, penguins and fish (1); a fall in krill numbers would affect the whole food web (1).
Question 6 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Geography of Antarctica
Explain why Antarctica is described as a global common. [3 marks]
Answer:
No country owns it, because territorial claims are put on hold by the Antarctic Treaty (1); it has no indigenous population and no permanent residents (1); it is managed by agreement for peace and science, and affects the whole world through sea level and climate (1).
Question 7 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Geography of Antarctica
Explain the role of Antarctica in regulating the global climate and sea level. [3 marks]
Answer:
The ice sheet holds enough water to raise sea level by about 58 m if it all melted (1); its white surface reflects sunlight and its cold water helps to drive ocean currents (1); loss of ice would speed warming and flood coasts around the world (1).
Question 8 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Vulnerability
Explain why Antarctica is vulnerable to global economic pressures and environmental change. [4 marks]
Answer:
Improved ships and aircraft make the continent more accessible (1); valuable resources such as fish, krill and possibly minerals attract interest as resources elsewhere run low (1); ecosystems are fragile, with few species and slow growth and recovery (1); warming and ocean changes are driven by emissions produced elsewhere in the world (1).
Question 9 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Climate change
Describe the evidence that Antarctica is being affected by climate change. [3 marks]
Answer:
The Antarctic Peninsula has warmed by about 3°C in 50 years, among the fastest rates on Earth (1); ice shelves such as Larsen B collapsed in 2002 (1); glaciers in West Antarctica such as Thwaites are losing ice rapidly, and sea ice has reached record lows in recent years (1).
Question 10 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Climate change
Explain the impacts of climate change on Antarctic ecosystems. [4 marks]
Answer:
Loss of sea ice reduces the algae that krill feed on (1); penguin colonies, such as Adélie penguins on the Peninsula, have declined (1); ocean acidification harms shell-forming plankton at the base of the food web (1); warmer conditions allow non-native species to colonise (1).
Question 11 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Climate change
Explain how melting of Antarctic ice affects places elsewhere in the world. [3 marks]
Answer:
Sea level rise threatens low-lying coasts and deltas such as Bangladesh and small island states (1); cities such as Miami and Shanghai face costly flood defences or retreat (1); fresh water entering the ocean can alter ocean circulation and weather patterns (1).
Question 12 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Whaling and fishing
Describe the history of whaling in the Southern Ocean and its impacts. [3 marks]
Answer:
Whaling for oil expanded rapidly in the 20th century with factory ships (1); blue whales were reduced to a tiny fraction of their original numbers (1); some populations, such as humpbacks, have recovered since protection, but others remain low (1).
Question 13 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Whaling and fishing
Explain the threats from fishing in the Southern Ocean. [3 marks]
Answer:
Krill fishing is growing to supply feed and omega-3 supplements, competing with the wildlife that depends on krill (1); illegal fishing for Patagonian toothfish has threatened stocks and caught seabirds as bycatch (1); fishing vessels risk fuel spills and pollution (1).
Question 14 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Minerals
Explain why there is interest in the mineral resources of Antarctica. [3 marks]
Answer:
Geology suggests coal, iron ore and possibly oil and gas under the ice and sea (1); resources elsewhere are being depleted and global demand for minerals is growing (1); extraction would be difficult and costly, and a spill or accident would be hard to clean up (1).
Question 15 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Tourism and science
Describe the growth of tourism in Antarctica and its impacts. [4 marks]
Answer:
Visitor numbers have risen to over 100,000 in recent seasons (1); most arrive on cruise ships to the Antarctic Peninsula, concentrating landings at a few sites (1); wildlife is disturbed and vegetation trampled, and non-native species may be introduced (1); there are risks of oil spills and ship accidents, and carbon emissions from travel (1).
Question 16 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Tourism and science
Calculate the percentage increase if visitors to Antarctica rise from 40,000 to 100,000 in a decade. [2 marks]
Answer:
(100,000 − 40,000) ÷ 40,000 × 100 (1); 150% (1).
Question 17 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Tourism and science
Explain how scientific research can both threaten and protect Antarctica. [3 marks]
Answer:
About 70 research stations run by around 30 countries use fuel and produce waste and sewage (1); vehicles, aircraft and construction can disturb wildlife (1); research monitors climate change, ozone and wildlife, and provides evidence for protection (1).
Question 18 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Tourism and science
Assess whether climate change is the greatest threat to Antarctica. [4 marks]
Answer:
Climate change affects the whole ice sheet and ecosystems and cannot be controlled by rules made within Antarctica (1); tourism and fishing are local threats that can be managed by regulation (1); mining is banned under the Madrid Protocol, at least until the earliest review date of 2048 (1); however, threats interact, because warming and sea ice loss open up new areas to ships and fishing (1).
Question 19 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Governance
Describe the Antarctic Treaty of 1959. [4 marks]
Answer:
Any four from: it was signed by 12 countries and now has over 50 parties (1); it applies to land and ice shelves south of 60°S (1); the continent is to be used for peaceful purposes only, and military activity is banned (1); there is freedom of scientific research and results are shared (1); territorial claims are frozen (1); nuclear explosions and dumping of radioactive waste are banned (1).
Question 20 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Governance
Explain how the Antarctic Treaty is inspected and enforced. [3 marks]
Answer:
Observers from any party can inspect stations, ships and aircraft (1); parties must report their activities and meet annually to agree rules (1); there is no police force and no direct penalties, so enforcement depends on national laws and cooperation (1).
Question 21 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Governance
Describe the Protocol on Environmental Protection (the Madrid Protocol) of 1991. [4 marks]
Answer:
Any four from: it designates Antarctica a natural reserve devoted to peace and science (1); it bans mineral resource activity other than scientific research (1); it requires environmental impact assessments for activities (1); it regulates waste disposal and the protection of wildlife and protected areas (1); it came into force in 1998 and can be reviewed after 2048 (1).
Question 22 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Governance
Explain why the ban on mineral extraction in Antarctica might be challenged in future. [3 marks]
Answer:
A review of the Protocol can be requested after 2048 (1); resources elsewhere are being used up and demand is rising (1); countries with growing economies may press for access as extraction technology improves (1).
Question 23 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Governance
Describe the role of CCAMLR. [3 marks]
Answer:
The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources was set up in 1982 as part of the Antarctic Treaty System (1); it sets catch limits for krill and toothfish, using an ecosystem approach (1); it uses observers and vessel tracking to monitor fishing and created the Ross Sea marine protected area in 2016 (1).
Question 24 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Governance
Describe the IWC whaling moratorium of 1982. [3 marks]
Answer:
The International Whaling Commission, founded in 1946, agreed a pause on commercial whaling in 1982, effective from 1986 (1); a Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary was created in 1994 (1); the IWC has no powers of enforcement and Japan left it in 2019 (1).
Question 25 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Governance
Explain the weaknesses in the enforcement of the whaling moratorium. [3 marks]
Answer:
The IWC relies on member governments to police their own ships (1); countries can object to the ban, as Norway and Iceland have done, or whale under scientific permits (1); NGOs such as Sea Shepherd have monitored and confronted whalers because official enforcement is limited (1).
Question 26 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Governance
Describe the role of UNEP in the governance of Antarctica. [2 marks]
Answer:
UNEP assesses global environmental change, including in polar regions, and publishes reports for governments (1); it supports agreements such as the Montreal Protocol, which addressed the ozone hole over Antarctica discovered in 1985 (1).
Question 27 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Governance
Explain the role of NGOs in monitoring and protecting Antarctica. [3 marks]
Answer:
Greenpeace and WWF have campaigned for protection and exposed damage (1); the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition lobbies at treaty meetings for protected areas (1); Sea Shepherd and others have confronted illegal fishing and whaling in the Southern Ocean (1).
Question 28 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Governance
Evaluate the effectiveness of the Antarctic Treaty System. [4 marks]
Answer:
It has kept the continent peaceful and free from mining for over 60 years (1); it has encouraged scientific cooperation between countries (1); decisions need agreement by all parties so progress can be slow, and enforcement relies on member states (1); it cannot control global threats such as climate change or the growth of tourism (1).
Question 29 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Consequences
Explain the geographical consequences of the governance of Antarctica for places in Antarctica and elsewhere. [4 marks]
Answer:
Antarctica has been protected from mining and military use, conserving its wildlife (1); scientists can research freely and their findings inform climate policy worldwide (1); action on the ozone hole has reduced skin cancer risks in places such as Australia, New Zealand and Chile (1); catch limits protect stocks but restrict the income of fishing companies (1).
Question 30 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Consequences
Explain how the governance of Antarctica affects the lives of students in the UK. [3 marks]
Answer:
Research by bodies such as the British Antarctic Survey provides ice-core evidence used in UK climate policy (1); protection of the ozone layer reduces exposure to harmful UV radiation (1); rules on fishing and sea level rise affect the seafood people buy and the safety of coasts (1).
Question 31 · Spec 3.2.1.6 · Benefits
Describe the benefits of globalisation for economic growth. [3 marks]
Answer:
Trade and investment allow countries to specialise and create jobs in export industries (1); TNCs bring capital, technology and skills, as in China and Vietnam (1); consumers gain lower prices and wider choice (1).
Question 32 · Spec 3.2.1.6 · Benefits
Explain how globalisation may have contributed to a reduction in poverty. [3 marks]
Answer:
The share of the world's population in extreme poverty fell from over a third in 1990 to under a tenth by 2019 (1); jobs in export industries, such as manufacturing in China and garments in Bangladesh, raised incomes (1); the reduction was concentrated in East Asia, with sub-Saharan Africa far behind (1).
Question 33 · Spec 3.2.1.6 · Benefits
Explain how globalisation can bring benefits for development. [3 marks]
Answer:
Spread of technology and medical knowledge, such as mobile phones and vaccines, improves lives (1); remittances from migrants provide income for families and investment (1); rising incomes can fund health, education and infrastructure (1).
Question 34 · Spec 3.2.1.6 · Benefits
Explain how globalisation promotes integration. [2 marks]
Answer:
Trade, ICT and travel link economies and societies, creating global supply chains and shared institutions (1); movement of people and ideas increases cultural exchange and understanding (1).
Question 35 · Spec 3.2.1.6 · Benefits
Explain how globalisation may increase stability. [3 marks]
Answer:
Trading partners have a financial interest in avoiding conflict with each other (1); the EU was built partly to make war between members unthinkable (1); international institutions provide ways of settling disputes peacefully (1).
Question 36 · Spec 3.2.1.6 · Costs
Explain how globalisation can increase inequalities between countries. [3 marks]
Answer:
Countries with capital, skills and technology gain more from trade and investment (1); poor countries dependent on primary exports earn little and face trade barriers (1); the gap in average incomes has widened between the richest countries and many in sub-Saharan Africa (1).
Question 37 · Spec 3.2.1.6 · Costs
Explain how globalisation can increase inequalities within countries. [3 marks]
Answer:
Skilled workers and owners of capital gain, while low-skilled workers face lower wages or job losses (1); investment concentrates in coastal and urban areas, such as Chinese coastal cities and Bangalore, leaving rural areas behind (1); de-industrialised regions in rich countries, such as former UK coalfield and mill towns, have been left behind (1).
Question 38 · Spec 3.2.1.6 · Costs
Explain what is meant by the Gini coefficient. [2 marks]
Answer:
A measure of income inequality within a country (1); it ranges from 0, perfect equality, to 1, where one person has all the income (1).
Question 39 · Spec 3.2.1.6 · Costs
Explain what is meant by a race to the bottom. [2 marks]
Answer:
Countries or regions compete to attract TNCs by lowering wages, taxes and regulations (1); this can reduce workers' rights and environmental protection (1).
Question 40 · Spec 3.2.1.6 · Costs
Explain the injustices that can arise from globalisation. [3 marks]
Answer:
Workers may face low pay, long hours, unsafe conditions and child labour, as at Rana Plaza in Bangladesh (1); land can be bought by foreign companies for plantations and mines, displacing local communities (1); tax avoidance by TNCs and a brain drain of skilled workers deprive poorer countries of resources (1).
Question 41 · Spec 3.2.1.6 · Costs
Explain how globalisation can contribute to conflict. [3 marks]
Answer:
Competition for resources such as oil and minerals can cause tension (1); minerals such as coltan and cobalt from the DR Congo have helped to fund armed groups (1); resentment about job losses and cultural change can fuel nationalism and trade disputes (1).
Question 42 · Spec 3.2.1.6 · Costs
Describe the environmental impacts of globalisation. [4 marks]
Answer:
Any four from: shipping and aviation produce greenhouse gas emissions (1); forests are cleared for soy, palm oil and beef for export (1); mining and manufacturing cause pollution and habitat loss (1); e-waste is exported to countries such as Ghana, where it is burned or dumped (1); resources are used up faster to meet rising consumption (1); invasive species and diseases spread through trade and travel (1).
Question 43 · Spec 3.2.1.6 · Costs
Explain how globalisation can spread risks around the world. [3 marks]
Answer:
COVID-19 spread rapidly through international air travel (1); the 2008 financial crisis began in the US housing market and spread to banks and economies worldwide (1); supply chains are vulnerable to disruption, as when a ship blocked the Suez Canal in 2021 (1).
Question 44 · Spec 3.2.1.6 · Costs
Explain the impacts of globalisation on culture. [3 marks]
Answer:
The spread of global brands, media and English can reduce cultural diversity, sometimes called homogenisation (1); many minority languages are at risk of disappearing (1); cultures also spread outwards and mix, for example Bollywood, K-pop and global cuisines, and TNCs adapt products locally (1).
Question 45 · Spec 3.2.1.6 · Costs
Explain what is meant by left-behind places. [2 marks]
Answer:
Areas that have not shared in the benefits of globalisation, often after industries have closed or moved overseas (1); examples are former industrial towns in northern England, with high unemployment and low investment (1).
Question 46 · Spec 3.2.1.6 · Costs
Explain why some people oppose globalisation. [3 marks]
Answer:
Workers fear job losses and wage cuts from overseas competition (1); campaigners criticise TNCs for exploiting workers and damaging the environment, as in the protests at the WTO meeting in Seattle in 1999 (1); others fear loss of national identity and independence from international institutions (1).
Question 47 · Spec 3.2.1.6 · Evaluation
A country's GDP per person rises from $2,000 to $2,600. Calculate the percentage increase. [2 marks]
Answer:
(2,600 − 2,000) ÷ 2,000 × 100 (1); 30% (1).
Question 48 · Spec 3.2.1.6 · Evaluation
Explain how some of the costs of globalisation can be reduced. [3 marks]
Answer:
Fairtrade and ethical buying can improve pay and conditions for producers (1); international agreements and national laws can set minimum labour and environmental standards (1); aid, investment in education and fairer trade rules can help poorer countries to gain more from trade (1).
Question 49 · Spec 3.2.1.6 · Evaluation
Assess the extent to which the benefits of globalisation outweigh its costs. [6 marks]
Answer:
Benefits include faster economic growth and falling extreme poverty in countries such as China and Vietnam (1); technology, health knowledge and cheaper goods spread widely (1); trade links can increase stability between partners (1); however, inequalities between and within countries have grown, leaving some places behind (1); workers have been exploited, and emissions, deforestation and e-waste have increased (1); the balance depends on the place and group, because gains are uneven and rules can reduce the costs (1).
Question 50 · Spec 3.2.1.5.1 · Governance
Describe how tourism in Antarctica is regulated. [2 marks]
Answer:
The tour operators' association IAATO, founded in 1991, sets guidelines such as limits on numbers landing at one time (1); operators need national permits and must follow the Madrid Protocol, but the system relies largely on self-regulation (1).

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