Study Reveals Ice Melt Could Green Parts of Antarctica
The climate crisis will turn some areas of Antarctica into carbon absorption zonesso-called carbon sinks. The idea seems counterintuitive and even positive, but the discovery should be viewed with caution. The finding was made by Brazilian researchers and published in February in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, part of the Nature group. The study aimed to estimate organic carbon stocks in the soil at a depth of 0 to 30 cm under three different potential future climate scenarios. It also sought to assess whether the ice-free areas in the region would act as carbon sources or sinks. One of the studys authors is adamant that the findings should not be blown out of proportion. "Antarctica, it seems, will indeed turn green over time with global warming. But this Antarctic greenery will not compensate for the loss of the worlds vast green areas and their conversion [due to deforestation]," says Carlos Schaefer, a researcher at UFV (Federal University of Vicosa). In the mildest climate crisis scenario, the estimated increase in soil carbon could reach nearly 28%. In the other two scenarios, with temperature rises above 1.5C, the increase exceeds 50%. However, according to the study, the estimates obtained may still be underestimated. Even if the affected area is still considerably large enough to serve as a carbon sink, it is far from being significant enough to counterbalance the problem we face. "Theres no point in tending to a small garden if your city is on fire," Schaefer compares.