Recent research indicates that a segment of the coldest continent on Earth is turning “greener” rapidly due to global warming. Notably, the study found that plant coverage across the Antarctic Peninsula has surged more than tenfold over the past forty years.

“The area is primarily made up of snow, ice, and rock, with only a minimal section taken over by vegetation,” remarked Thomas Roland, a co-author from the University of Exeter in the U.K.

“However, this small area has expanded significantly – demonstrating that even this vast, isolated wilderness is undergoing shifts due to human-induced climate change,” he added.

Greening in the Antarctic Peninsula rose from under 1.1 square miles in 1986 to nearly 14.3 square miles by 2021.

Increase in Extreme Heat Events

As temperatures in Antarctica rise, so does the increase in vegetation: “Antarctica has seen significant temperature rises in the last 60 years,” the study noted. “The warming is most pronounced in the Western Antarctic and the Antarctic Peninsula, progressing much faster than the average increase globally.”

Specifically, temperatures on the peninsula have increased by over 5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1950, a much sharper rise compared to other global regions, as detailed in the study published in the journal Nature Geoscience.

Additionally, the Antarctic Peninsula is warming at a pace that surpasses the global average, with an uptick in extreme heat events reported in the area, according to the study.

Continued Increase in Greening

Research indicates that the greening trend in Antarctica is likely to keep escalating.

Olly Bartlett, a co-author from the University of Hertfordshire, stated: “Antarctica has mostly poor or absent soil, but with the increase in plant life, organic material will accumulate, aiding in soil formation — potentially allowing for a wider range of plant species to grow. This raises the possibility of non-native and invasive species arriving, potentially through tourists, researchers, or other visitors to the continent.”

Utilization of Satellite Imagery

The latest research employed satellite imagery to establish that a greening pattern is happening and intensifying across the Antarctic Peninsula.

This research is “critical,” noted Jasmine Lee, a conservation scientist at the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, UK, in an interview with the journal Nature. While other studies have indicated that plant life on the peninsula is altering due to climate change, “this is the first extensive study that examines the entire region thoroughly,” she explained.

The “remarkable” rate at which greenery is expanding, according to Roland, underscores “the extraordinary changes humanity is forcing upon the planet’s climate.”