New Ice Core 'Looks' Back 1.2 Million Years in Time

concordia research station - Scientists from the European Beyond Epica project have drilled an ice core on the South Pole that stretches 2800 meters long, offering insights into global climate dating back as far as 1.2 million years ago.

Scientists from the European Beyond Epica project have successfully drilled an ice core on the South Pole that is a remarkable 2800 meters long. This ice core provides the opportunity to reconstruct the global climate history dating back at least 1.2 million years. Described as a groundbreaking moment for climate and environmental science, the project aims to analyze changes in greenhouse gases, chemical substances, and atmospheric dust over the millennia.

The layers of ice on the South Pole act like a layered cake, with each year's snowfall adding a new stratum. These layers contain valuable information about the weather conditions in the year the precipitation occurred. Italian glaciologist Carlo Barbante explains, "Thanks to the ice core, we can understand the shifts in greenhouse gases, chemical substances, and atmospheric dust."

By examining the substances found in each layer, researchers can detect significant events such as volcanic eruptions, which in turn impact the climate. Additionally, sometimes pollen grains are discovered, offering insights into historical flora and providing clues about past climates.

The team of scientists has achieved a new milestone with this ice core, surpassing the previous record that looked back 800,000 years. The four-year drilling expedition endured harsh conditions to retrieve this invaluable ice core.

Barbante views this achievement as "a historic moment for climate and environmental science." According to him, the ice core can demonstrate the linkage between the carbon cycle and the planet's temperature. He also commended the collaborative efforts of the European Union-funded Beyond Epica project that made this drilling possible.

Going beyond the 1.2 million years mark, the ice core's lowest 400 meters are deemed unreliable for scientific analysis due to the immense pressure at the core's bottom. This pressure has compressed and mixed the yearly layers, rendering them unsuitable for accurate research.