Extreme Heat Waves Grow Vegetation in Antarctica, Scientists Alarm

Antarctica is drowning, which is one of the most alarming situations across the globe. It is estimated that 150 billion tonnes of ice sheets are melting yearly mainly because of global warming. In yet another turn of events, researchers and scientists had identified green patches over the ice sheets which is again a matter of concern. Not only that, but the rate at which the sheets are getting greener is also crucial as this may lead to the depletion of most ice sheets.

The ice scapes are getting greener because of excessive heat being produced by the various agents of the environment such as pollution and global warming, Researchers from the University of Exter and the University of Hertfordshire, and the British Antarctic Survey have used certain satellite images to assess the condition. It was found that the vegetation on the ice sheet is getting warmer with every passing day.

The year 1986 marked a vegetation cover of not more than .4 square miles, however, in the year 2021, the coverage was more than 40 percent which is equivalent to 10 folds. A professor from the University of Exter claims that the majority of the portion remains in ice, snow, and rocks but a small part of the region remains green. He further claimed that global warming has reached even the most remote regions and areas.

“Our findings confirm that the influence of anthropogenic climate change has no limit in its reach, Even on the Antarctic Peninsula – this most extreme, remote, and isolated ‘wilderness’ region – the landscape is changing, and these effects are visible from space,” claims, Thomas Roland.