A new study published in the journal Nature Geoscience revealed that Antarctica is experiencing rapid and unprecedented greening, with vegetation on the Antarctic Peninsula increasing more than tenfold over the past four decades. Utilizing satellite data from NASA's Landsat program, researchers documented an exponential growth in plant coverage, primarily mosses, which expanded from less than one square kilometer in 1986 to nearly 12 square kilometers by 2021.
"The landscape is still almost entirely dominated by snow, ice, and rock, with only a tiny fraction colonized by plant life. But that tiny fraction has grown dramatically—showing that even this vast and isolated wilderness is being affected by anthropogenic climate change," said Dr. Thomas Roland, an environmental scientist at the University of Exeter, according to a report by IFLScience.
The study, conducted by scientists from the Universities of Exeter and Hertfordshire in England and the British Antarctic Survey, utilized the Google Earth Engine platform to assess vegetation response to climate change over 35 years. The majority of vegetation growth occurred between 2016 and 2021 at a rate of around 0.4 square kilometers per year, indicating an acceleration in the greening trend compared to the long-term average of 0.317 square kilometers per year.
Antarctica's rapid warming, at rates much higher than the global average, has been a factor in this transformation. Temperatures on the Antarctic Peninsula have risen by almost 3°C since 1950, contributing to more frequent extreme heat events and making it more susceptible to radical changes due to its proximity to ocean currents. "Extreme heat events in Antarctica are becoming increasingly frequent, occurring even during winter, leading scientists to fear what this means for the future of the continent," scientists warned.
"The Antarctic Peninsula is warming at a rate much higher than the global average, and the consequences are visible in the rapid and continuous expansion of vegetation in areas previously covered by ice," the research team stated. This greening is linked to accelerated warming and could be associated with the decrease in sea ice cover due to climate change, causing both warmer and wetter conditions.
The increase in vegetation is predominantly composed of mosses, lichens, and other species adapted to extreme cold. These pioneer species are known to thrive in nutrient-poor and harsh environmental conditions, growing on bare rocks and creating a foundation for subsequent soil formation. Mosses dominate the vegetation cover in the region, and their expansion accelerates soil formation, creating new conditions for vascular plants, some of which may be invasive.
Researchers warn that this rapid greening poses challenges. "New species could be introduced and spread in Antarctica due to increasing vegetation, raising the risk of non-native and invasive species disrupting fragile ecosystems," scientists cautioned. The greater connectivity between ice-free areas increases the risk of invasion by non-native species, increasing pressures on local biodiversity.
"The sensitivity of the Antarctic Peninsula’s vegetation to climate change is now clear and, under future human-caused warming, we could see fundamental changes to the biology and landscape of this iconic and vulnerable region," Dr. Roland stated, as reported by the New York Post. The introduction of non-native plants and microorganisms threatens the ecological stability of the region.
As temperatures increase, glaciers and ice sheets are receding, revealing more land where plant life can grow. This process not only changes the physical landscape but also has the potential to further accelerate warming. The increase in vegetation reduces albedo—the surface's ability to reflect solar radiation—which contributes to local warming. This can create a feedback loop where warming generates conditions that further intensify the problem. "These changes are a clear manifestation of climate feedback, where warming generates conditions that further intensify the problem," scientists warned.
Scientists emphasize the need for further research to understand the full implications of these changes. "Now we need to go to the areas where the change is most evident and make on-site observations," Dr. Roland said. Future research is necessary to understand how quickly these changes are happening and what they could mean for the future of the continent.
"Our findings confirm that the influence of anthropogenic climate change has no limit in its reach. Even on the Antarctic Peninsula—the most extreme, remote and isolated wilderness region—the landscape is changing, and these effects are visible from space," Dr. Roland stated.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.