Antarctica is Turning Green
What it could mean for the future of this planet
By Luca | 5/23/2020
Just this week, a study was released detailing the rise of green patches on Antarctica’s surface. Collecting on coastal islands, these patches of algae are signs of climate change’s effect on the Antarctic snow, and how the new slushy like composition has promoted green growth. The warming caused by climate change has made these areas more habitable for plants which have previously been virtually nonexistent, and these algae blooms are evidence of what Antarctica could become in the next 100 years. Such a finding is quite startling. For thousands of years, Antarctica has been a frozen wasteland and the landscape could drastically change forever.
Plant growth in itself isn't a large issue. Other than being evidence of global warming’s effect on the poles, and how extensively ice could melt and other ecosystems be destroyed, the growth seems benign for now and possibly even beneficial. Matt Davey of Cambridge University, one of the people in charge of the recent study, noted, “This could potentially form new habitats. In some place, it would be the beginning of a new ecosystem”. People have also mentioned that this algae bloom could also bring a new source of nutrients for animals and other life amongst the ice. The algae could also possibly be a source of carbon sequestration. Over the course of the study, scientists found 1,679 blooms of snow algae, covering almost 1.9 sq km. These patches of algae equate to a carbon sink of 479 tonnes a year (or 875,000 car journeys). Although in the grand schemes of things it won’t have a large effect on the atmospheric carbon totals, the greenification of Antarctica in greater amounts could lead to something significant. More trees and plants across the arctic surface in large amounts could become a massive carbon sink, able to significantly help addressing carbon totals in the atmosphere. Although it is unviable to use trees alone to remove carbon from the atmosphere, alongside other techniques like carbon sequestration plants, agricultural reform, and renewable energy, the greenification of Antarctica could be part of the solution in stopping climate change.
Even though this plant growth may be a good sign, we must remember that such drastic change in climate and environment could lead to massive shifts in temperature and weather across the world. The arctic and antarctic currents are hugely important in determining the warmth of oceans and the movements of wind and clouds. We will have to see what happens, but as it stands, the greenification of Antarctica is a sign that we really don’t have much time left to keep the planet as it is (and stay below that 1.5 degree mark), so let's make the most of it and get to work.
As an added note to all of this, as I was researching this topic, I came across a Fox News article detailing the findings. I personally was quite surprised that they would cover such a topic, having a history of doubting man’s effect on climate change. The article was pretty objective, but at the end they said two things:
“Skeptics have largely dismissed fears over man’s impact on global warming, saying climate change has been going on since the beginning of time...They also claim the dangers of a warming planet are being wildly exaggerated and question the impact that fossil fuels have had on climate change” (Fox News)
It's pretty disconcerting that Fox News, a major news source that almost half of the United States consumes, adds misleading information regarding the skepticism around global warming. As it is presented above, man’s effect on climate change seems like a debated issue, not an concrete fact accepted by 99% of the scientific community. As we move on, we must emphasize the legitimacy of information, because facts are everything.
Plant growth in itself isn't a large issue. Other than being evidence of global warming’s effect on the poles, and how extensively ice could melt and other ecosystems be destroyed, the growth seems benign for now and possibly even beneficial. Matt Davey of Cambridge University, one of the people in charge of the recent study, noted, “This could potentially form new habitats. In some place, it would be the beginning of a new ecosystem”. People have also mentioned that this algae bloom could also bring a new source of nutrients for animals and other life amongst the ice. The algae could also possibly be a source of carbon sequestration. Over the course of the study, scientists found 1,679 blooms of snow algae, covering almost 1.9 sq km. These patches of algae equate to a carbon sink of 479 tonnes a year (or 875,000 car journeys). Although in the grand schemes of things it won’t have a large effect on the atmospheric carbon totals, the greenification of Antarctica in greater amounts could lead to something significant. More trees and plants across the arctic surface in large amounts could become a massive carbon sink, able to significantly help addressing carbon totals in the atmosphere. Although it is unviable to use trees alone to remove carbon from the atmosphere, alongside other techniques like carbon sequestration plants, agricultural reform, and renewable energy, the greenification of Antarctica could be part of the solution in stopping climate change.
Even though this plant growth may be a good sign, we must remember that such drastic change in climate and environment could lead to massive shifts in temperature and weather across the world. The arctic and antarctic currents are hugely important in determining the warmth of oceans and the movements of wind and clouds. We will have to see what happens, but as it stands, the greenification of Antarctica is a sign that we really don’t have much time left to keep the planet as it is (and stay below that 1.5 degree mark), so let's make the most of it and get to work.
As an added note to all of this, as I was researching this topic, I came across a Fox News article detailing the findings. I personally was quite surprised that they would cover such a topic, having a history of doubting man’s effect on climate change. The article was pretty objective, but at the end they said two things:
“Skeptics have largely dismissed fears over man’s impact on global warming, saying climate change has been going on since the beginning of time...They also claim the dangers of a warming planet are being wildly exaggerated and question the impact that fossil fuels have had on climate change” (Fox News)
It's pretty disconcerting that Fox News, a major news source that almost half of the United States consumes, adds misleading information regarding the skepticism around global warming. As it is presented above, man’s effect on climate change seems like a debated issue, not an concrete fact accepted by 99% of the scientific community. As we move on, we must emphasize the legitimacy of information, because facts are everything.