Satellite data finds 'dramatic' expansion of plant life in Antarctica

Vegetation in Antarctica increased from under 1 sq km in 1986 to nearly 12 sq km by 2021, showing dramatic growth.

Antarctica is experiencing a remarkable transformation, with plant cover across the Antarctic Peninsula skyrocketing by more than tenfold over recent decades, according to a groundbreaking analysis of satellite data.

In stark contrast to the less than one square kilometer of vegetation recorded in 1986, researchers documented nearly 12 square kilometers of green cover by 2021.

This significant increase, primarily driven by the growth of mosses, has accelerated since 2016, marking a concerning trend in the face of climate change.

The findings highlight the accelerating impact of global warming on a continent traditionally characterized by ice and rock. As the Antarctic warms at a rate surpassing the global average, scientists caution that this greening phenomenon may pave the way for invasive alien species to infiltrate the fragile ecosystem.

"The Antarctic landscape remains dominated by snow, ice, and rock, with only a tiny fraction colonized by plant life," noted Dr. Thomas Roland from the University of Exeter, co-leader of the study.

"However, the significant growth in this small area underscores the reality that even this remote wilderness is not immune to human-caused climate change."

Published in the journal Nature Geoscience, the research indicates that future warming could lead to "fundamental changes" in the biology and landscape of this iconic region, unless carbon emissions are curtailed.

The study’s authors point to a marked decrease in sea ice extent since 2016, which may be contributing to the wetter conditions that favor plant growth.

Prof. Andrew Shepherd from Northumbria University, who was not involved in the study, remarked on the findings' relevance, recalling his own observations of the region.

"When I visited Larsen Inlet a couple of years ago, I found a beach that had been buried beneath the Larsen Ice Shelf until it collapsed between 1986 and 1988," he said.

"It now has a river with green algae—this area was hidden from the atmosphere for millennia, yet plants began to colonize it within decades of becoming ice-free."

This alarming trend not only signals a shift in Antarctica's ecological balance but also poses risks of non-native species arriving on the continent, potentially brought in by tourists and researchers.

Dr. Olly Bartlett from the University of Hertfordshire, another co-leader of the study, emphasized that increased vegetation could enhance soil formation, raising the stakes for invasive species.