European scientists have made history by extracting an ice core over 1.2 million years old from the Antarctic ice sheet, shattering the previous record of 800,000 years. This breakthrough has provided a rare glimpse into Earth’s ancient climate and holds significant data to help better understand past atmospheric conditions.
The research team spent over 200 days drilling into the ice sheet at an altitude of nearly 10,500 feet near the Concordia research base. Temperatures were extremely low during the “warmer” Antarctic summer months, reaching as low as -22 degrees Fahrenheit.
The extracted ice cores contain air bubbles that serve as samples from past atmospheres, providing scientists with a unique opportunity to reconstruct ancient CO2 levels and other gases. By analyzing these bubbles, researchers can gain insights into how CO2 and other factors shaped ancient climates and influenced environmental conditions over thousands of years.
This discovery could provide fresh insights into today’s climate patterns by offering a long-term look at atmospheric changes. Understanding how CO2 levels have changed over millions of years may offer clues about future climate trends and their impact on global ecosystems. As scientists analyze the data, they hope to produce findings that can inform policy decisions and strategies for tackling climate change.
This achievement demonstrates the commitment of researchers to uncovering Earth’s complex climate history, emphasizing the importance of understanding our planet’s past to better handle its future.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/01/european-researchers-dig-up-earths-oldest-ice-what-secrets-does-it-hold