Summary:
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Rapid Plant Growth
Vegetation across the Antarctic Peninsula has increased more than tenfold in recent decades, highlighting the impact of climate change on this icy region. -
Satellite Data Analysis
In 1986, there was less than 1 square kilometer of vegetation, but by 2021, that figure surged to nearly 12 square kilometers, primarily consisting of mosses. -
Accelerating Growth
The growth of plants has accelerated since 2016, indicating a significant response to rising temperatures in Antarctica, which is warming faster than the global average. -
Potential Risks
The increase in vegetation could pave the way for invasive species to enter this previously pristine ecosystem, posing a threat to its biodiversity. -
Wider Climate Trends
Similar greening patterns have been observed in the Arctic, with unprecedented weather events occurring, such as rain falling on Greenland’s ice cap for the first time in recorded history.
Read more at: The Guardian | Nature Geoscience
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