Satellite observations have shown that the amount of vegetation on the Antarctic Peninsula has increased more than tenfold since 1986. This clearly demonstrates the process of climate change and raises the question about the future of the southern continent.
The word Antarctica has long been synonymous with ice. The southern continent has been considered the most unfavorable place for life on Earth. In recent years, however, the situation has begun to change – at least on its fringes.
In October 2024, an article by researchers from the Universities of Exeter and Hertfordshire was published in the journal Nature Geoscience. They analyzed the archive of images taken by Landsat satellites in the period from 1986 to 2021 and concluded that over this period of time, the area of land covered with vegetation on the Antarctic Peninsula has increased more than tenfold: from 0.86 to 11.95 square kilometers. It is noteworthy that the increase in the area of green areas has sharply accelerated since 2016.
The results of the study are presented on the maps below. They show the amount of greenness in the ice-free area below 300 meters above sea level in some years of the study period. The shade of each hexagon corresponds to the land area where the level of greenness and plant density, determined using the satellite NDVI index, was high enough to indicate the “almost certain” presence of vegetation. NDVI values were derived from Landsat observations on cloudless days in March each year, which typically corresponds to the end of the growing season. The maps show a significant expansion of vegetation cover in the South Shetland Islands and along the western tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Past field studies on the Antarctic Peninsula have shown that mosses dominate its green areas, forming extensive “carpets” and vertically accumulating “jars”. Both build up layers of new growth each year. Carbon dating of core samples taken from mosses along the western tip of the peninsula revealed that the rate of their accumulation has increased over the past half-century, indicating an increase in biological activity against the backdrop of climate change. That is why scientists decided to use satellite imagery data to assess its scale.
When researchers first obtained figures for the rate of greening, they were puzzled by its speed. However, the results based on two different indicators (core analysis and satellite imagery) turned out to be the same.
According to scientists, the Antarctic Peninsula is now one of the fastest-warming places on Earth. Most of its glaciers are retreating. The growth of vegetation in recent years also coincides with a decrease in Antarctic Sea ice, an increase in open water and a strong positive phase of the Antarctic Oscillation, which may create warmer and wetter conditions. All this raises the question about the future of the continent and the fate of its ecosystems, which may fall victim to invasive species.
Earlier we told you that the first ice-free day in the Arctic Ocean could come as early as 2027.
Provided by Earthobservatory
