Antarctica going green due to climate change

Antarctica is going green as a result of climate change, according to new research.

There are no trees on the frozen continent and only two species of flowering plant Antarctic hairgrass and Antarctic pearlwort, that grow on the western peninsula and surrounding islands.

A team of UK and Australian scientists has found that the hairgrass has spread over the last 50 years due to global warming.

Dr Paul Hill, of Bangor University scientist, said areas of Antarctica are becoming greener.

“We think of the Antarctic as a land of snow and ice. But, in summer on the Antarctic Peninsula, and the islands surrounding the frozen centre of the continent, the snow melts and many areas become green with mosses and two species of native flowering plant. Recently, as global temperatures have increased, and Antarctic summers have become longer and warmer, one of these flowering plants, Antarctic Hairgrass has become increasingly widespread.”

The study, published in Nature, found that the hairgrass is able to take advantage of the nitrogen produced when soil warms up and decomposes. (read more)