<
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/antarctic-peninsula-turning-green-photos-20007571.php>
"A surreal phenomenon is unfolding in one of the most barren, mystifying
regions on Earth, and according to a recent article from NASA, scientists say
that it could be a new byproduct of global warming.
According to an October 2024 study published in
Nature Geoscience, vegetation
is taking over the Antarctic Peninsula, turning its edges into a verdant
landscape worthy of plein air painting. After analyzing satellite data
collected from 1986 to 2021, scientists from the universities of Exeter and
Hertfordshire were shocked to discover that the greenery grew from 0.86 square
kilometer to 11.95 square kilometers, spreading much faster than initially
thought. It seems to have grown quicker in the last five years in particular,
the paper continued. Though the region has been significantly warming for the
past 60 years, rates of warming are highest in the Antarctic Peninsula and West
Antarctic, authors wrote.
Previous studies by some of the same researchers revealed that moss creates
“carpets” along these frozen tundras, transforming them into green panoramas.
Ardley Island, a 1.9-kilometer-long isle on the outskirts of the Antarctic, is
just one example — but after analyzing data collected from several sites over
the course of 150 years, scientists found that this vegetation grew
exponentially in the past half century due to climate change.
And now, they say that this explosion of lush, emerald-green plants could be an
omen.
“The regional sensitivity of moss growth to past temperature rises suggests
that terrestrial ecosystems will alter rapidly under future warming, leading to
major changes in the biology and landscape of this iconic region,” authors
wrote in a 2017 study.
“Based on the core samples, we expected to see some greening,” Exeter
University researcher Tom Roland told NASA, “but I don’t think we were
expecting it on the scale that we reported here.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
