Syllabus
GS Paper III – Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Context
The vegetation cover on the Antarctic Peninsula has expanded 14-fold over the past 35 years.
Antarctic Greening
Introduction
The Antarctic Peninsula, one of the most rapidly warming regions on Earth, has experienced a dramatic increase in vegetation cover over the past 35 years, expanding 14-fold. This shift is largely attributed to climate change, as rising temperatures and melting ice have created more favorable conditions for plant growth, particularly mosses and lichens. The accelerated greening of this region, which has traditionally been known for its harsh and barren landscape, raises concerns about the ecological balance and potential impacts on global sea levels, wildlife habitats, and the overall health of the Antarctic ecosystem.
Antarctic Ecosystem
- Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, and driest continent on Earth.
- Antarctic Desert: Classified as a desert with an annual precipitation averaging only 166 mm along the coast, and even less in the interior regions.
- Temperature Range:
- Interior Temperature: Typically around -57°C, with winter lows reaching up to -90°C.
- Coastal Temperature: During summer, the maximum temperatures range between -2°C and 8°C.
- Ice Cap Climate: Due to the extreme cold, snow rarely melts, gradually compressing into the ice sheet over time.
- Antarctic Ice Sheet: Covers nearly 98% of the continent with an average thickness of 1.6 km, holding nearly 90% of the world’s total ice.
- Ultraviolet Rays and Sunburn Risk: Despite the cold, intense sunburns can occur as snow reflects almost all of the UV radiation.
- Antarctic Wildlife: Known for iconic species like penguins, seals, and whales that thrive in its frigid environment.
- Vegetation in Antarctica:
- Antarctica’s plant life is composed primarily of hardy species like mosses, liverworts, and lichens.
- Mosses: Small, non-vascular plants that reproduce without flowers.
- Lichens: A symbiotic mix of fungi and algae or cyanobacteria.
- Flowering Plants: Though trees and shrubs are absent, two flowering species exist: the Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia antarctica) and the Antarctic pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis).
- Micro-Invertebrates: Antarctica’s micro-forests harbor over 60 species of microscopic invertebrates like springtails, rotifers, nematodes, and tardigrades.
Rate of Antarctica’s Warming
- Antarctica is heating up at a rate of 0.22°C to 0.32°C per decade, which is nearly twice as fast as the global average.
- Global Warming Comparison: As per the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the global warming rate is estimated between 0.14°C and 0.18°C per decade.
- Warming of Antarctic Peninsula: The Antarctic Peninsula has been warming at a rate five times faster than the global average, now registering temperatures almost 3°C higher compared to the 1950s.
- Antarctic Heatwaves: Antarctica has faced unprecedented heatwaves, particularly during the height of the continent’s winter, coinciding with summer in the northern hemisphere.
- Recent Temperature Trends: In July 2023, ground temperatures across certain parts of Antarctica were observed to be 10°C higher than usual, with some areas recording anomalies up to 28°C.
- Impact of Rising Temperatures: The rapid warming in Antarctica has accelerated the decline in sea ice extent, with the 2024 sea ice levels being the second lowest in satellite-recorded history.
- Extreme Heat Event in 2022: In March 2022, the continent experienced a severe heatwave when temperatures in East Antarctica soared to 39°C above normal levels, marking an extreme climate anomaly.
Antarctic Greening
- The plant cover on the Antarctic Peninsula has expanded over 10-fold in recent decades due to increasing temperatures.
- The rate of greening surged by over 30% between 2016 and 2021.
- Types of Vegetation Expansion:
- Vascular plants and mosses native to the peninsula are showing significant expansion.
- The Antarctic Peninsula, a mountainous region extending towards South America, is a key area for these changes.
- Vegetation Growth around Robert Island: In areas surrounding Robert Island, a notable hotspot for vegetation growth, researchers recorded an 18.7% increase in plant-covered areas between 2013 and 2016.
- Factors Driving Antarctic Greening:
- Rising Temperatures: Ground temperatures have been consistently 10°C higher than normal since July, with some days reaching up to 28°C above the average.
- Sea Ice Decline:
- The reduction in sea ice and warmer conditions from global warming are creating favorable environments for plant proliferation.
- Between 2016 and 2021, accelerated plant growth was closely linked to a significant reduction in the extent of sea ice.
- Impact of Climate Change: Wetter conditions caused by warmer open seas are promoting plant growth across the peninsula, directly influenced by climate change.
Impacts of increased vegetation in Antarctica
- Landscape Alteration:
- The Antarctic landscape, primarily dominated by snow, ice, and rock, has minimal or poor soil quality.
- The expansion of moss plants on the peninsula is significant, as mosses can colonize barren rock, introduce organic matter, and facilitate soil formation, leading to a transformation of the landscape.
- Invasive Species Risk: The formation of new soils under milder conditions could make Antarctica more hospitable to invasive species, which may pose a threat to native biodiversity and endemic species.
- Albedo Reduction: An increase in vegetation could lower the peninsula’s albedo (the capacity to reflect solar energy), as darker surfaces absorb more solar radiation, leading to reduced reflection of sunlight back into space.
- Rising Ground Temperatures: The decrease in albedo may contribute to further ground temperature rise, which could have both local and global impacts.
- Accelerated Ice Loss:
- Higher temperatures will intensify the melting of ice, leading to greater ice loss and contributing to rising global sea levels.
- Antarctica has already seen a 280% increase in ice mass loss in the 2000s and 2010s compared to the 1980s and 1990s.
Way forward
- Enhanced Monitoring and Research: Establish comprehensive monitoring systems to track vegetation changes, soil formation, and the spread of invasive species. Increased research will help understand long-term ecological impacts and support conservation efforts.
- Strengthening Environmental Regulations: Enforce stricter environmental protocols under the Antarctic Treaty System to minimize human activities that may introduce non-native species or further accelerate ecological changes.
- Climate Change Mitigation: Global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions must be intensified to slow down climate change, which is directly contributing to warming temperatures and the greening of Antarctica.
- Conservation of Native Biodiversity: Implement measures to protect endemic species and fragile ecosystems by creating conservation zones and regulating tourism and scientific expeditions that could disrupt the delicate ecological balance.
Conclusion
The dramatic 14-fold expansion of vegetation on the Antarctic Peninsula over the past 35 years reflects the profound impact of climate change on one of the Earth’s most fragile ecosystems. While this greening signals significant ecological shifts, it also raises concerns about the broader implications, including threats to native biodiversity, landscape transformation, and potential acceleration of ice loss due to rising temperatures. As the Antarctic environment continues to warm, it is crucial to balance scientific exploration, environmental protection, and global climate action to safeguard this critical region from further disruption and preserve its unique ecological identity.
Reference: IE
Related PYQ
‘Climate Change’ is a global problem. How will India be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change? [UPSC CSE – 2016 Mains]
Practice Question
Discuss the phenomenon of Antarctic greening, its recent trends, and the implications for the Antarctic ecosystem and global climate. What measures should be taken to address the challenges posed by this environmental change? [150 words]
Guidelines to Answer
- Introduction:
- Define Antarctic greening and its significance.
- Briefly mention the observed increase in vegetation cover.
- Recent Trends:
- Highlight key statistics on vegetation expansion, particularly in the Antarctic Peninsula.
- Discuss factors contributing to this change, such as rising temperatures and reduced sea ice.
- Implications:
- Analyze ecological impacts: changes in biodiversity, potential for invasive species, and soil formation.
- Discuss global implications: effects on sea levels, albedo changes, and feedback mechanisms in climate change.
- Measures to Address Challenges:
- Suggest monitoring and research initiatives to track ecological changes.
- Recommend strengthening international environmental regulations under the Antarctic Treaty System.
- Emphasize the need for climate change mitigation strategies globally.
- Conclusion:
- Summarize the importance of understanding Antarctic greening.
- Stress the urgency of addressing climate change and protecting the Antarctic ecosystem.