WARMING OF ANTARCTICA

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Context:

The Antarctic Peninsula, like many polar regions, is warming faster than the global average, with extreme heat events in Antarctica becoming more common.

Details:

A 2023 study conducted by University of Exeter, University of Hertfordshire, British Antarctic Survey found that the continent is warming twice as fast as the global average, at a rate of between 0.22 degrees Celsius and 0.32 degrees Celsius per decade currently.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations body that advances scientific knowledge about climate change, has estimated that the Earth as a whole is warming at the rate of 0.14-0.18 degrees Celsius per decade.

Key Findings

Greening Growth (1986-2021)	Vegetation cover grew from less than one square kilometer to nearly 12 square kilometers. 30% increase in the last five years, with 400,000 square meters of new greens every year.
Plant Species	Mostly mosses, which thrive in harsh conditions.
Environmental Impact	Greening is evidence of the effects of anthropogenic climate change.
Potential Risks	Alien species may invade due to warming climate and increased human activity.
Ecosystem Dynamics	New biological interactions between mosses, lichens, insects, and bird species, creating a complex ecosystem.
Broader Climate Change Impact	Localized greening indicates global climate changes, affecting sea levels and carbon cycling.
Call for Action	Urgency for international cooperation to address climate change and prevent ecosystem imbalance.

About the Antarctic Peninsula

The Antarctic Peninsula, known as O'Higgins Land in Chile and Tierra de San Martín in Argentina, and originally as Graham Land in the United Kingdom and the Palmer Peninsula in the United States, is the northernmost part of mainland Antarctica.

The Antarctic Peninsula is part of the larger peninsula of West Antarctica, protruding 1,300 km (810 miles) from a line between Cape Adams (Weddell Sea) and a point on the mainland south of the Eklund Islands.

Beneath the ice sheet that covers it, the Antarctic Peninsula consists of a string of bedrock islands; these are separated by deep channels whose bottoms lie at depths considerably below current sea level. They are joined by a grounded ice sheet. Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of South America, is about 1,000 km (620 miles) away across the Drake Passage.

The Antarctic Peninsula is 522,000 square kilometres (202,000 sq mi) in area and 80% ice-covered.

Impacts of Warming on the Antarctic Environment

Melting Ice Sheets and Glaciers:

One of the visible impacts of Antarctica’s warming is the increased melting of its ice sheets and glaciers. The West Antarctic Ice Sheet has shown substantial ice loss, contributing to rising global sea levels.

Sea-Level Rise:

Antarctica holds about 70% of the world’s freshwater in its ice sheets. As these ice masses melt, the water flows into the oceans, causing sea levels to rise.

Greening of Antarctica:

As temperatures rise, some areas of Antarctica have increased vegetation growth, in the form of mosses and lichens. While this might seem like a positive development for biodiversity, the "greening" of Antarctica could also upset the region’s delicate ecological balance.

Impact on Marine Life:

The warming of Antarctic waters is affecting marine life, species that rely on sea ice for survival. Krill, a species in the Antarctic food chain, depends on sea ice for its habitat.

Global Implications of Antarctica’s Warming

Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Vulnerability:

The melting of Antarctic ice contributes to global sea-level rise, which poses a severe threat to coastal cities and low-lying nations.

Ocean Circulation and Weather Patterns:

The arrival of cold, fresh water from melting Antarctic ice has the potential to disrupt the circulation of the world’s oceans.

Way Forward

Addressing the warming of Antarctica requires a global effort to mitigate climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The international community must work together to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global temperature increases to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

Conclusion

The warming of Antarctica is an indication of the broader impacts of climate change on our planet. Its consequences, from rising sea levels to the disruption of ecosystems, will have global repercussions that cannot be ignored.

READ ABOUT-

Record-Breaking Heatwave in Antarctica

Source:

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-climate/as-green-patch-spreads-in-antarctica-heres-what-is-worrying-scientists-9614478/

Reference:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241007115554.htm

https://www.earth.com/news/antarctica-is-greening-at-an-unprecedented-rate/

 

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.What are the potential implications of sea-level rise and the delicate of the Antarctic ecosystem? Evaluate the role of international cooperation in addressing the challenges posed by Antarctic warming. (150 words)