CNN —Parts of icy Antarctica are turning green with plant life at an alarming rate as the region is gripped by extreme heat events, according to new research, sparking concerns about the changing landscape on this vast continent.
Vegetation covered less than 0.4 square miles of the Antarctic Peninsula in 1986 but had reached almost 5 square miles by 2021, the study found.
The rate at which the region has been greening over nearly four decades has also been speeding up, accelerating by more than 30% between 2016 and 2021.
Vegetation growing on Green Island on the Antarctic Peninsula, which is warming much faster than the global average.
Matt AmesburyA part of Barrientos Island that has given way to plant life.
Persons:
Matt Amesbury, Dan Charman, Thomas Roland, ” Roland, ”, Charman, Olly Bartlett, Matthew Davey, Davey, Mary Gilbert
Organizations:
CNN, British Antarctic Survey, Nature, University of Exeter, University of Hertfordshire, Scottish Association for Marine Science
Locations:
South America, Exeter, Hertfordshire, England, Barrientos, Antarctica