The new study – carried out by the Universities of Exeter and Hertfordshire and the British Antarctic Survey – used satellite data to assess how much the Antarctic Peninsula has “greened” in response to climate change.

The vegetation area across the entire peninsula was found to have increased from less than one square kilometer in 1986 to almost 12 square kilometers in 2021.

Published in the magazine Natural geosciencesThe study also found that this greening trend accelerated by over 30% in recent years (2016-2021) compared to the entire study period (1986-2021), increasing by over 400,000 square meters per year during this period.

This new study uses satellite imagery to confirm that a widespread greening trend is underway and accelerating across the Antarctic Peninsula.

“The plants we find on the Antarctic Peninsula – mainly mosses – grow in perhaps the harshest conditions on Earth,” said Dr. Thomas Roland from the University of Exeter.

“The landscape is still dominated almost entirely by snow, ice and rock, with only a tiny part populated by plants.

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

Dr. Olly Bartlett from the University of Hertfordshire added: “As these ecosystems become more established – and the climate continues to warm – the extent of greening is likely to increase.”

“The soil in Antarctica is largely poor or non-existent, but this increase in plant life will add organic matter and facilitate soil formation – potentially paving the way for the growth of other plants.”

“This increases the risk of non-native and invasive species entering the continent, possibly carried by ecotourists, scientists or other visitors.”

The researchers emphasize the urgent need for further research to identify the specific climate and environmental mechanisms driving the “greening” trend.

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

He added: “Our findings raise serious concerns about the ecological future of the Antarctic Peninsula and the continent as a whole. “To protect Antarctica, we must understand these changes and identify exactly what is causing them.”

The researchers are now investigating how recently deglaciated (ice-free) landscapes are colonized by plants and how this process might continue in the future.

The title of the paper is: “Satellites show sustainable greening of the Antarctic Peninsula.”