• Scientists say they have drilled deeper than ever beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, peering back millions of years to reveal signs it was once, at least in part, open ocean.
Article Summaries:
- Scientists have completed the deepest drill core ever taken beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, extending into the ice shelf’s ancient history. The new core, retrieved from a depth previously unreachable, contains sediment layers that indicate the region was at least partially open ocean during earlier geological periods. The findings, published by the research team, provide direct evidence of past sea‑ice extent and help refine models of Antarctic climate change. By revealing the ice sheet’s transition from marine to glacial conditions, the study offers valuable insights into the region’s past dynamics and its future response to warming.
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