From ice to oasis: Rapid greening of Antarctica shocks scientists

British scientists from the Universities of Hartford and Exeter have determined that Antarctica is rapidly becoming greener as the climate warms.

Report informs that the study was published in the scientific journal Nature Geoscience (NatGeo).

The team analyzed satellite data from 1986 to 2021. It was revealed that vegetation cover on the Antarctic Peninsula has increased from an area of less than one square kilometer to up to 12 square kilometers.

Thomas Roland, a scientist from the University of Exeter, stated that the plants growing in the harshest climate conditions on Earth are on the Antarctic Peninsula:

"The landscape is still almost entirely covered with snow, ice, and rocks, with plants existing in only a small portion. However, this small portion has grown dramatically. This shows that Antarctica's vast and isolated desert is sensitive to the effects of human-induced climate change."

Scientists say that more vegetation in Antarctica will add organic matter to polar soils, which will eventually create conditions for the development of other flora species.