Antarctica Turning Green – Thanks to Climate Change !
KAKALI DAS

The coldest place on Earth, Antarctica, is no longer as cold as it once was — largely due to climate change. This warming is causing the icy continent to undergo significant changes, leading to a noticeable greening of its landscape.
Certain areas of Antarctica are now characterized by a lush landscape, featuring mosses and flowering plants that are growing at an accelerated pace. In fact, vegetation growth has increased by more than tenfold over the past few decades.
What implications does this have on the world? Is the alarming greening confined to Antarctica, or is it happening elsewhere too?

The images of Antarctica’s green carpet might resemble an ideal picnic spot, but surprisingly, this lush landscape is indeed Antarctica—the coldest place on Earth. The pictures were taken by the Landsat satellites operated by NASA and the US Geological Survey in March, which is the end of the growing season for vegetation in the Antarctic.
Certain regions of the continent are turning green, with flowering plants and mosses expanding, particularly across the Antarctic Peninsula—a long mountain chain that represents the northernmost part of mainland Antarctica.
A new study reveals that, over the past few decades, plant coverage in Antarctica has increased more than tenfold. In 1986, vegetation occupied less than 1 square kilometer of the Antarctic Peninsula, but by 2021, it had expanded to nearly 13 square kilometers. Moreover, this growth rate has accelerated with each passing year.
For example, plant growth surged by over 30% between 2016 and 2021. While this may appear to be an exciting and Instagram-worthy phenomenon, scientists have analysed this vegetation using satellite images, and their response has been clear: “This kind of plant growth is alarming.” This trend is raising significant concerns, as it is driven by climate change that is warming the icy continent.
“It’s the beginning of dramatic transformation,” said Olly Bartlett, a remote-sensing specialist at the University of Hertfordshire in Hartfield, UK, and an author of the study, which was published in Nature Geoscience.
In recent years, extreme heat events have increasingly impacted the region. This year, parts of Antarctica experienced record-breaking heat waves, with temperatures rising up to 10 degrees Celsius above normal. While this may not seem dramatic elsewhere, for Antarctica, it marked an unprecedented heat wave.

What is the highest temperature recorded for this part of the planet? It occurred just two years ago, in 2022, when temperatures soared to 21 degrees Celsius above normal. These heat events not only alter the iconic landscape of this icy continent but also inflict significant harm.
As the region becomes greener, more soil is formed, creating an environment that may become unfavourable for existing species while inviting invasive ones. This could lead to the introduction of new seeds, plants, and animals to Antarctica, posing a potential threat to the local wildlife.
Additionally, Antarctica’s ice plays a crucial role for the planet by reflecting solar radiation back into space, helping to keep the Earth cool. If the ice diminishes, Antarctica will reflect less heat. This is due to a fundamental principle of science: darker surfaces absorb more heat. Therefore, as greening increases, Antarctica’s capacity to perform this function decreases, further contributing to global warming.

The risks are clear, and if they concern you, consider the broader implications: what is happening in Antarctica is not confined to that region. Due to climate change, similar greening has also been observed in the Arctic, where, in 2021, rain fell for the first time instead of snow.
The Sahara Desert, one of the driest places on Earth, is also experiencing greening due to heavy rainfall this year, leading to stronger and more frequent floods.
As climate change intensifies, our iconic landscapes have transformed into a nightmare disguised as a daydream.

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