Antarctica’s importance.
Did you know that Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth? It’s super icy and covered in thick snow, making it look like a giant snowy wonderland all year round! Nobody lives there, but scientists from all around the world come to study cool stuff.
Antarctica is really important because it helps keep the Earth’s temperature just right. It reflects much of the sun's heat back into space, so we don’t get too hot.
Antarctica goes green.
Guess what? The Antarctic Peninsula is getting greener! As our planet warms up, more plants are growing in this chilly place. Back in 1986, scientists noticed only a little bit of plants, but by 2021, there was so much more! That’s a big change!
Most of the new growth is moss, which has been growing faster than ever since 2016. When the sea ice melts, and the oceans get warmer, wetter conditions are created that help plants like moss thrive.
Scientists think even more plants will grow in Antarctica as it gets warmer.
How is this harmful?
As Antarctica gets greener, more soil will form, making it easier for new plants and animals to move in. This could be bad for local wildlife, like penguins and seals.
The greening could also reduce the ice cover. The ground would absorb more sunlight with less ice, making the Earth warmer.
