Antarctic Summer: Ukrainian Scientists Showcase Stunning Photos of Green Landscapes from Antarctic Research Station [PHOTOS]
Antarctica, which is constantly covered with snow and ice, is now turning green. The Antarctic summer has begun there. There are about a hundred plant species on the continent that are not visible at other times of the year.
Ukrainian researchers from the National Antarctic Centre told about this.
"Usually, only snow, ice, frost and icicles are associated with Antarctica. But now it is summer there, and at this time the air temperature fluctuates around 0℃. In particular, this summer, the highest temperature reached +5℃ (January 3), and the lowest dropped to -1.2℃ (January 12). Of course, under such conditions, the snow melts and the Antarctic turns green, as unique Antarctic vegetation emerges from under the white cover," the research centre said in a statement.
Ukrainian polar explorers are studying how climate change affects Antarctic vegetation. To do this, they keep records of bushes and their distribution.
In addition to climate change, penguins help Antarctic plants grow. After all, it is they who generously "fertilise" rocks and narrow areas of soil, making them suitable for further landscaping.
Scientists even use drones to map the vegetation.
"This Antarctic season, research on the green cover of the Antarctic is just beginning, but we will definitely tell you about its results," the Ukrainian scientists emphasised.
The stunningly beautiful photos of the mesmerising beauty of Antarctica's green summer landscapes were taken by scientists Serhii Glotov and Dmytro Martynenko, who also became staff photographers at the Antarctic station.
As The Gaze previously reported, Ukrainian scientists at the National Antarctic Station captured a rare natural phenomenon - multi-layered snow drifts formed by the wind from snow and ice, which occasionally cover the area near the scientific station and disappear quite quickly. This phenomenon is quite rare, including in the Antarctic, although it can be found not only here. This is because the formation of such snow drifts requires a number of specific weather conditions.