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Striking images from the Sahara Desert and the Antarctic Peninsula reveal dramatic changes in two of the world’s most extreme environments, driven by climate change.
In the Sahara, large lakes have formed in the rolling sand dunes following unprecedented rainfall in southeast Morocco—one of the most arid regions on Earth. For two days in September, a low-pressure system brought intense rain to the area, with preliminary NASA satellite data showing nearly 8 inches of precipitation in some locations. The desert city of Errachidia recorded nearly 3 inches of rain during this period, more than four times the average for September and equivalent to over half a year’s worth for the region.
“It’s been 30 to 50 years since we’ve had this much rain in such a short space of time,” said Houssine Youabeb of Morocco’s meteorology agency. The rain transformed the arid landscape, creating lakes amidst palm trees and scrub vegetation, with dramatic scenes captured in Merzouga, where a new lagoon reflects the town's palm trees against steep sand dunes. Satellite images indicate that even normally dry lakes, like those in Iriqui National Park, have filled with water. However, the deluge also led to deadly flooding in some towns, claiming more than a dozen lives.
Similarly, scientists report that a portion of Antarctica is "greening" at an alarming rate due to global warming. Vegetation cover on the Antarctic Peninsula has increased more than tenfold in the last four decades, from less than 1.1 square miles in 1986 to nearly 14.3 square miles in 2021. “This tiny fraction of the landscape has grown dramatically—showing that even this vast and isolated wilderness is being affected by anthropogenic climate change,” said Thomas Roland, a study co-author from the University of Exeter.
Temperatures in the Antarctic Peninsula have risen over 5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1950, exceeding the global average. This warming has triggered more frequent extreme heat events, further contributing to the greening of the landscape. Researchers anticipate that this trend will continue, which could introduce non-native and invasive species to the region, potentially carried by visitors.
These contrasting phenomena highlight the far-reaching impacts of climate change, affecting ecosystems in both the world's hottest and coldest environments. As extreme rainfall events become more common in the Sahara and vegetation expands in Antarctica, scientists emphasize the urgent need for action to address climate change and its effects on these fragile ecosystems.
[Information sourced from USA Today, CNN]
