--- title: "Scientists: Climate Change Is Turning Parts of Antarctica Green" description: "A British team of biologists from the University of Cambridge have created the first-ever large-scale map of algae blooming across the Antarctic, turning part of the peninsula green. So green, in fact, the bright pigments can be seen from space, as detailed in the study published in the journal Nature Communications today. While these “snow […]" date: "2020-05-20" modified: "2020-05-20" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/climate-change-antarctica-green" categories: - "Climate Change" - "Environment" - "Science & Energy" tags: - "antarctic peninsula" - "Antarctica" - "climate change" - "the digest" --- # Scientists: Climate Change Is Turning Parts of Antarctica Green ![A British team of biologists have created the first-ever large-scale map of algae blooming across the Antarctic that's turning parts of the peninsula green.]() *\Image: Matt Davey/University of Cambridge\* ## Algae Blooms A British team of biologists from the University of Cambridge have created the first-ever large-scale map of algae blooming across the Antarctic — and turning parts of the continent green. So green, in fact, that the bright pigments can be seen from space, as detailed in [a new study]() about the work published in the journal *Nature Communications* today. https://youtu.be/Ty7Y9srqPB0 ## Green Antarctic While these "snow algae" didn't come as a surprise, the scientists believe the range of the blooms will expand due to global warming. The full exact effects of more algae on the climate, though, is still not fully understood. "I think we will get more large blooms in the future," lead author Andrew Grey, research associate at Cambridge, [told *The Guardian*](). "Before we know whether this has a significant impact on carbon budgets or bio albedo, we need to run the numbers." ## Knock-On More algae could also have a knock-on effect, as darker snow patches absorb more sunlight, but estimates of these effects aren't available yet, [according to the researchers](). The green algae use sunlight to capture carbon dioxide and release oxygen, a process that rapidly increases when excess levels of nitrogen and phosphorous are available. **READ MORE:** [Climate change is turning parts of Antarctica green, say scientists]() \[*The Guardian*\] **More on algae:** *[BRIGHT-RED “BLOOD SNOW” IS FALLING FROM THE SKY IN ANTARCTICA]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()