The southernmost continent, Antarctica, is warming and blooming
The remains of a 90-million-year-old rainforest have been discovered beneath the ice of Antarctica. Now, warmer temperatures are melting glaciers and the meltwater is allowing seeds to begin to germinate. Antarctica is in the grip of one of the world’s fastest climate changes. Its melting ice could contribute to sea level rises of up to 5 metres. Where the ice disappears, it leaves behind barren land. By the end of this century, land the size of a small country could emerge from beneath the ice. Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier has earned its nickname “Doomsday Glacier” for its potential to flood coastlines around the world if it collapses.
Massive natural and industrial sources of greenhouse gases are accelerating warming
Leaks of methane and carbon dioxide from the ocean floor, from cracks in the ground, industrial leaks and emissions from tropical forests have been detected.