Even the world’s most isolated and icy continent isn’t safe from the impacts of climate change, researchers reveal. According to a recent study, global warming is causing parts of Antarctica to ‘green’ at a huge rate. In just four decades, vegetation cover across the Antarctic Peninsula has surged more than tenfold.
Co-author Thomas Roland from the University of Exeter remarked that while the landscape remains dominated by snow, ice, and rock. He said, “That tiny portion has increased dramatically, signaling that even this remote wilderness is being altered by human-driven climate change.”
Since 1986, green cover on the Antarctic Peninsula has expanded from a mere 1.1 square miles to nearly 14.3 square miles by 2021. The warming trend in Antarctica is significant. Over the past 60 years, the continent has experienced a sharp rise in temperatures, especially in the West Antarctic and Antarctic Peninsula regions, which are heating up faster than the global average.
Peninsula has seen a temperature spike of over 5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1950, a much greater increase than in other parts of the world. Extreme heat events are also becoming more common in the region, pushing the greening trend forward.
The study predicts that Antarctica will continue to see more greenery. Olly Bartlett, a co-author from the University of Hertfordshire, pointed out that the rising plant life. She claimed that it will add organic matter to the nutrient-poor soil, potentially allowing other species to thrive. However, this could also open the door for invasive species, brought in by tourists or researchers.
Using satellite imagery, the study has uncovered the alarming extent of this transformation. Jasmine Lee of the British Antarctic Survey, also stressed the importance of these findings, highlighting the unprecedented environmental changes.
Also Read: ‘NCIS’ Season 22: All you need to know about premiere & cast
