A team of international scientists achieved a major milestone on Thursday by successfully drilling one of the oldest ice cores ever. They penetrated nearly 2 miles (2.8 kilometers) into Antarctic bedrock and uncovered ice that is believed to be at least 1.2 million years old.
The analysis of this ancient ice is expected to provide valuable insights into Earth’s atmosphere and its evolution. It may shed light on how ice age cycles have changed and help in understanding the impact of carbon on the climate, according to the researchers.
“Thanks to the ice cores, we will be able to track changes in greenhouse gases, chemicals, and dust in the atmosphere,” said Carlo Barbante, an Italian glaciologist and the coordinator of the Beyond EPICA ice core collection project. Mr. Barbante is also the Director of the Italian National Research Council’s Institute of Polar Sciences.
The same team had previously drilled cores that date back around 800,000 years. The latest drilling reached a depth of 2.8 kilometers (approximately 1.7 miles), with a team of 16 scientists and support staff working tirelessly for four years during the summer seasons in temperatures averaging around -35 degrees Celsius (-25.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
Source: www.nbcnews.com
