Scientists were shocked by the greenness of Antarctica the world

According to analyzes of satellite data, the vegetation covering Antarctica has increased more than tenfold in recent decades.

This is what was shown by a new study published in the journal Nature Geoscience from the Universities of Exeter and Hertfordshire in Great Britain.

Greenery in Antarctica

British media write that the Antarctic Peninsula in 1986 was covered with less than one square kilometer of vegetation. 35 years later, in 2021, the number has risen to approximately 12 square kilometres, where most of the growth – consisting mainly of algae – has occurred as of 2016.

The Guardian Reports suggest that this is a result of global warming, and scientists are now warning of invasive species in the Antarctic ecosystem.

Snow, ice and rocks still dominate Antarctica's landscape, with only a small amount of plant life. But the small portion has grown significantly, showing that even this vast and isolated wilderness is being affected by human-caused climate change, says Dr. Thomas Rowland, one of the study's co-authors at the University of Exeter, according to The Guardian.

Scientists were shocked

Sky News He writes that Rowland states that the size of the vegetation “shocked” the researchers. He went on to say that the finding raises concerns for the future of the Antarctic Peninsula when it comes to the environment, as well as for “the continent as a whole.”

According to Dr Ollie Bartlett from the University of Hertfordshire, it is not the actual presence of greenery in the far south of the Earth that is shocking, but “the rate at which vegetation grows”.

In total, the area of ​​the Antarctic Peninsula is about 500,000 square kilometers.