Scientists from the University of Wisconsin and University of Colorado have made groundbreaking discoveries about Antarctica’s ice sheets. Their research, set to be published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, sheds new light on the continent’s complex history.
According to the study, scientists examined a mysterious mountain range in Antarctica, known as the Transantarctic Mountains, which was discovered during the British National Antarctic Expedition of 1901-1904. The team analyzed an exceptionally large data set from igneous rocks recovered from this region and found evidence that supports glacial cycles in Antarctica.
The research suggests that the continent’s landscape history is more dynamic than previously thought, with multiple punctuated mountain-building and erosion events that shaped its surface. These events are associated with major plate tectonic changes along Antarctica’s margins.
Lead researcher Timothy Paulsen explained that the study’s findings imply an older geologic history of the continent that may have influenced patterns of glacial advance and retreat, and possibly even evolutionary steps in Earth’s global ocean-atmosphere system.
While further research is needed to fully understand the implications of these findings, the discovery marks a significant step forward in our understanding of Antarctica’s complex history.
Source: https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/antarctica-geology-ice-sheet-evolution