Our satellites objectively observe climate change on Earth. From their vantage point, they watch as the ice pack slowly loses control over the polar oceans, ice shelves break apart, and previously frozen parts of the planet turn green with vegetation. Scientists have compiled 35 years of satellite data showing that Antarctica is slowly but surely greening.

NASA and the US Geological Survey sent the first Landsat into space in 1975. They have since launched eight more Landsats; Landsat 9 will be the final launch in 2021. Landsat data is a unique treasure trove of data about the Earth and the changes it is undergoing, including millions of images.

Landsats have tracked wildfires burning, urban areas expanding, glaciers melting, and many other changes the Earth has undergone.

Latest research published natural geology, It used 35 years of Landsat data from Landsat 5 to Landsat 8 to measure the distribution of vegetation in Antarctica. It’s called “Sustainable Greening of the Antarctic Peninsula Observed from Satellites.” The research was carried out by ecologist Thomas Roland from the University of Exeter and remote sensing expert Ollie Bartlett from the University of Hertfordshire.

“This study aimed to evaluate the response of vegetation to climate change in the AP.” [Антарктичному півострові] It is achieved by quantifying the rate of change over the last 35 years, at a spatial scale and in yet unquantified “direction” (greening and darkening), the paper states.

Studies show that the area of ​​vegetation on the Antarctic Peninsula has increased more than 10-fold since 1986. Vegetation area increased from 0.86 square meters. (0.33 square miles) in 1986 to 11.95 km2 (4.61 square miles) in 2021. The scope is limited to the warmer edges of the peninsula, but it still points to the changes our carbon emissions are causing to the ecology of the region.

This vegetal colonization of the coldest region on Earth begins with mosses and lichens. Mosses are pioneer species, the first organisms to move into a new habitat. These non-vascular plants are hardy and hardy and can grow on bare rock in nutrient-low environments. They provide a foundation for successive plants, secrete acid that breaks down rock, and provide organic matter as they die.

The results of the research are clearly visible on the map. Each of the four panels shows the amount of green vegetation in the ice-free region of the Antarctic Peninsula below 300 meters (1,000 ft). Each hexagon is shaded according to how many square kilometers it is. from it it is covered with vegetation. This is determined by the Satellite Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). NDVI is based on spectrometric data collected by Landsat satellites on cloudless days each March at the end of the growing season in Antarctica.

Moss dominates green spaces, growing on carpets and benches. In previous studies, Roland and co-researchers collected carbon-dated core samples from kelp banks on the west side of the AP. They showed that algae accumulated more rapidly over the last 50 years and that there was an increase in biological activity. This led them to their current study, in which they wanted to determine whether moss grows not only upwards but also outwards.

“We expected some greening based on core samples,” Roland said, “but I don’t think we expected it at the scale we reported here.” “When we first counted the numbers we couldn’t believe it,” Bartlett said. “The speed itself is pretty impressive, especially over the last few years.”

The West Antarctic Peninsula is warming faster than other parts of the world. Not only are its glaciers retreating, but the sea ice area is shrinking and more open water is becoming available. The authors note that a change in the wind regime due to greenhouse gas emissions may contribute to this.

What will happen as the ice continues to retreat and pioneer species continue to colonize Antarctica? There are hundreds of native species on the continent, mostly mosses, lichens, liverworts and fungi. There are only two species of flowering plants on the continent: Antarctic hairwort and Antarctic pearlwort. What does this mean for them?

“Glacier retreat dominates the narrative of these places,” Roland said. “We’re starting to think about what comes after the glacier recession.”

When moss grows in an area, soil forms where there is no moss. This opens the way for other organisms, both native and non-native. The risk is that natural biodiversity will be damaged.

Tourism and other human activities can unintentionally introduce new species, and windborne seeds and spores can do the same. If strong organisms emerge, they will be able to compete with native species. There are already several documented cases of this. Carbon core and Landsat data are just the beginning for Roland, Bartlett and their fellow researchers. The next step is detailed field work.

“We’ve reached the point where we’ve said the best we can with the Landsat archives,” Roland said. “We need to go to the places where we see the most significant changes and see what is happening on the ground.” Researchers want to know what types of plant communities were formed and what changes occurred in the environment.