Antarctica is experiencing profound changes, with flowering plants, moss, and algae spreading due to rising summer temperatures. Record-low sea ice levels have also been observed. In 2022, Antarctica saw its most significant heatwave on record, with temperatures reaching 39 °C above normal. Climate change amplified this event by 2°C over the last century, and projections suggest a further 6°C increase by 2096, nearing melting point. As suitable land for plants expands, irreversible biodiversity loss and the invasion of foreign species become concerns. Scientists are urgently studying Antarctica’s ecosystems to protect them from the ongoing climate crisis.
Source: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2023GL104910