Vegetation cover increased in Antarctica

By Alimat Aliyeva

Scientists from the University of Exeter and Hertfordshire, as well as the British Antarctic Survey, have identified an increase in vegetation cover on the Antarctic Peninsula over the past four decades, Azernews reports.

According to the results of the study, the area of vegetation on the peninsula has increased more than tenfold — from less than one square kilometer in 1986 to almost 12 square kilometers by 2021. This greening is due to the accelerating warming of the Antarctic Peninsula, which is warming faster than many other regions of the world.

To assess the growth of vegetation, scientists used satellite data, which made it possible to trace in detail the changes on the surface of the peninsula. 3D images provided information on the expansion of vegetation cover over an area of about 400 thousand square meters per year in the period from 2016 to 2021, which is 30 percent faster than in previous years.

A previous study based on the study of moss samples showed that plant growth rates have also increased dramatically in recent decades. New data confirm that the greening trend is not only continuing, but also accelerating. The landscape of the Antarctic Peninsula is still covered with snow and ice, but small areas where mosses grow are expanding.

The researchers emphasize that this process can lead to the emergence of new plant species, as well as the risk of invasive species entering, which can change the ecosystem of the region. An increase in vegetation will add organic matter to the soil, which will create conditions for further landscaping of the territory.