Antarctica is turning GREEN - and experts blame climate change

If you were asked to visualise Antarctica, it's likely a vast white landscape would spring to mind. 

But a concerning new study might have you rethinking that image in your head. 

Experts from the universities of Exeter and Hertfordshire have warned that Antarctica is turning green - with climate change to blame. 

Their analysis shows that vegetation cover across the Antarctic Peninsula has increased more than tenfold over the last four decades. 

'Our findings raise serious concerns about the environmental future of the Antarctic Peninsula, and of the continent as a whole,' said Dr Thomas Roland, who led the study. 

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Previous studies have shown that, like many polar regions, the Antarctic Peninsula is warming faster than the global average. 

In their new study, the researchers set out to understand how much of the area has 'greened' in response to this warming. 

The team analysed satellite images taken across the Peninsula over the last 40 years. 

Back in 1986, the images show that just one square kilometre of the Peninsula was covered with vegetation. 

However, by 2021, this area had increased to almost 12 square kilometres. 

Speaking to MailOnline, Dr Roland explained that while simple before-and-after photos would be 'impactful', they were not possible. 

'Sadly we only have "very high resolution" images from 2013 and 2016,' he said. 

'Whilst the increases in vegetation we observe over this short window are in line with our overall greening trend (1986-2021) the visual difference is not that remarkable! 

'In turn, a single image from the coarser resolution satellite we use for the main study (where we have hundreds of images over the full 35 year period), I suspect, would not be perceived as good enough "quality" as to be impactful.'

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The study also found that the greening is happening quicker and quicker. 

Greening accelerated by over 30 per cent in recent years (2016-2021) relative to the full study period (1986-2021) – expanding by over 400,000 square metres per year in this period.

'The plants we find on the Antarctic Peninsula – mostly mosses – grow in perhaps the harshest conditions on Earth,' said Dr Roland.

'The landscape is still almost entirely dominated by snow, ice and rock, with only a tiny fraction colonised by plant life.

'But that tiny fraction has grown dramatically – showing that even this vast and isolated 'wilderness' is being affected by anthropogenic climate change.'

Worryingly, the researchers say that as these ecosystems become more established and temperatures continue to rise, the extent of the greening will increase. 

Dr Olly Bartlett, co-author of the study, said: 'Soil in Antarctica is mostly poor or non-existent, but this increase in plant life will add organic matter, and facilitate soil formation – potentially paving the way for other plants to grow.

'This raises the risk of non-native and invasive species arriving, possibly carried by eco-tourists, scientists or other visitors to the continent.'

Based on the findings, the team is calling for 'urgent' research into the specific mechanisms behind the greening trend.  

'The sensitivity of the Antarctic Peninsula's vegetation to climate change is now clear and, under future anthropogenic warming, we could see fundamental changes to the biology and landscape of this iconic and vulnerable region,' Dr Roland added.

'In order to protect Antarctica, we must understand these changes and identify precisely what is causing them.'