Tag Archives: pole

Massive North Pole Unleashed Dinosaurs to Dominate the Earth

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The feathered dinosaur Beipiaosaurus illustrates that dinosaurs thrived in cold climates during the Mesozoic era.

Dinosaurs thrived in colder climates, as exemplified by the feathered dinosaur Beipiaosaurus, which lived between 127 and 121 million years ago.

Mark P. Whitton/Science Photo Library

About 200 million years ago, the North Pole was occupied by a massive landmass, three times the size of the South Pole. This land triggered a prolonged cold spell, allowing dinosaurs to dominate the Earth.

Paleontologist Paul Olsen from Columbia University explains how this “gigantic Arctic continent” encompassed present-day Siberia and parts of China.

During much of the Mesozoic Era, which extended from 252 million to 66 million years ago, nearly all of Earth’s land, except modern-day China, merged into the supercontinent Pangea. This vast landmass later fragmented into two entities surrounded by the only ocean at the time, Panthalassa.

Olsen and fellow researchers have concluded that new geological analyses, including magnetic rock signatures, reveal the ancient latitudes of these formations, linking Mesozoic China back to Pangea. The positioning of continents suggests Siberia and China once formed a significant portion of the Arctic Circle.

Olsen plans to discuss these findings at the upcoming European Geosciences Union meeting in Vienna next month, illuminating how this climate-centric puzzle comes together.

The Mesozoic climate was markedly warmer than today. However, 201 million years ago, during the late Triassic epoch, Pangea began to disassemble, leading to the formation of the Atlantic Ocean. The subsequent volcanic activity coincided with global cooling, lowering sea levels, prompting extinction events, and allowing dinosaurs to rise.

Olsen theorizes that the Arctic’s influence was pivotal. Even in a temperate climate, the vast landmass near the North Pole would experience winter snow and ice. These icy regions possess a high albedo effect, meaning a significant portion of solar energy is reflected away, contributing to cold conditions.

Left: Antarctica today; Right: The Arctic continent that existed 200 million years ago

Paul Olsen et al. 2026

Volcanic activity released aerosols into the atmosphere, contributing to a cooling climate that hindered summer melting in the northern regions. This preserved ice, maintaining high albedo levels and extending cold temperatures, possibly allowing polar ice sheets to persist for thousands of years.

The increase in Arctic ice contributed to falling sea levels, while extreme cooling from volcanic winters led to mass extinctions. Some resilient dinosaurs adapting to cold climates evolved insulating feathers, helping them survive severe winters and emerge as dominant species once global temperatures stabilized.

“This hypothesis is surprising because we traditionally view the Mesozoic era as ice-free,” says Mike Benton of the University of Bristol. “Imagining early dinosaurs navigating a harsh winter landscape is innovative, even if short-lived. During this period of high extinction, volcanic eruptions combined with polar ice may have disrupted dinosaur populations significantly.”

Olsen further emphasizes that the existence of a large Arctic continent has been “hidden in plain sight.” He notes, “Many depictions of Earth visually distort polar regions, obscuring their importance in geological history.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Frostline Review: Why This Heartfelt Book Makes a Compelling Case for the North Pole

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Caribou herd migration near Anaktubuk, Alaska

Caribou Herd Spring Migration at Anaktubuk Pass, Alaska

KATIE ORLINSKEY

Frostline
Neil Shea, Picador (UK, February 12) Ecco Publishing (US, available now)

The North Pole might seem like a vast, desolate place dominated by walruses and polar bears, but a new perspective emerges in Neil Shea’s compelling book. He highlights the importance of the Arctic as climate change accelerates, arguing that it demands our attention.

In Frostline: A Journey Through the Complexities of Life and Landscapes in the Warming Arctic, journalist Neil Shea gathers insights from twenty years of dedicated reporting for National Geographic. This profound narrative illuminating the North Pole’s realities resonates with readers, even those who have never set foot there.

Shea’s journey begins with breathtaking images from his inaugural trip to the North Pole in 2005, where he camped on the sea ice of Admiralty Bay, Canada. Witnessing a large gathering of narwhals was exhilarating, as the males exhibited their fangs in displays of dominance.

The sight of life converging in a fragile ecosystem inspired Shea’s deep fascination with the Arctic. He adeptly conveys his passion through vivid descriptions and memorable encounters with the wildlife of this remarkable region.

On Ellesmere Island, Shea connects with a pack of white wolves that exhibit no fear of humans, showcasing the intricate relationships within this ecosystem. In Alaska’s Kobuk Valley National Park, he camps amongst extensive caribou herds, coexisting with brown bears on their seasonal migrations.

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Melting ice makes the Arctic attractive, as President Trump’s threats against Greenland prove
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While Shea beautifully depicts the Arctic’s wildlife and landscapes, he also provides a more nuanced understanding of this complex region. The Arctic is not merely a snowy expanse; it consists of eight modern states and is home to 4 million people, including 400,000 Indigenous individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Through his vivid portrayals of the local communities, Shea highlights the unique challenges they face as they battle against climate change, which is impacting the Arctic much more rapidly than other regions on Earth. Some of his Inuit interviewees eagerly share their experiences with the changes they’ve witnessed, while others harbor reservations towards Western inquiries, seeking a more profound respect for their culture.

While reflecting on his time spent camping on frozen lakes, Shea realizes the importance of addressing climate change issues head-on. The implications of warming are becoming increasingly evident, threatening the delicate balance of the Arctic ecosystems and exposing them to further risks.

As illustrated by geopolitical tensions, such as President Trump’s threats toward Greenland, melting ice opens new access routes in the Arctic. Shea’s journey culminates on the Norwegian-Russian border, where migrants traverse dangerous icy terrains seeking refuge, reminding readers of the interconnectedness of our world.

Elle Hunt is a writer based in Norwich, UK.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Sand dunes and ice formations found in Mars’s north pole by Mars Express

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new images from high resolution stereo camera (HRSC) On ESA's Mars Express spacecraft It shows the terrain surrounding Mars's permanent ice cap at its north pole.

This image from ESA's Mars Express shows an area close to Mars' north pole. This image consists of data collected by Mars Express' High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on April 14, 2023. Image credit: ESA / DLR / FU Berlin.

Mars' permanent north polar ice cap is a stack of water ice and dust layers up to 3 km thick and approximately 1,000 km in diameter.

These are divided into four stacked “packets” of different thicknesses, which are further composed of finer layers.

These layers contain information about the climate going back millions of years in Mars' history.

The deposits were formed by precipitation of dust and water ice in the atmosphere and by direct frost formation.

These consist primarily of water ice, with fine dust deposits accounting for 10-15% of the total.

These likely reflect changes in Mars' orbit and the tilt of Mars' axis of rotation, which is much more unstable than Earth's orientation.

It changes in several cycles with periods ranging from thousands of years to millions of years.

Changes in solar radiation cause significant changes in climate, especially in the polar regions. The Arctic ice sheet is currently thought to be growing.

“The landforms surrounding Mars' north pole, known as pranum boriumfascinating,” said a member of the Mars Express team.

“The poles themselves are covered with a layer of fine dust and water ice. These stack up several kilometers thick and extend for about 1,000 kilometers.”

“Most of this material is not visible here, but you can see the beginning of the planum boreum on the right side of the frame. There are some subtle wrinkles that indicate where layers of material are starting to accumulate.”

“The ground has also become more distinctly stepped, as most clearly seen in the topographical map of the area below.”

“The lowest elevation areas are blue/green, and the highest elevation areas are red/white/brown.”

“These layers formed as a mixture of dust, water ice, and frost that accumulated on the Martian ground over a long period of time.”

“Each layer contains valuable information about Mars' history, telling us how the planet's climate has changed over the past millions of years.”

“During the Martian winter, a thin cap of carbon dioxide ice several meters thick rests on top of that layer. This cap completely disappears into the atmosphere each year during the Martian summer.”

The left side of the image is dominated by a vast strip of undulating sand dunes, extending over 150 km within this frame alone.

This wrinkled, turbulent appearance is very different from the smoother, more primitive terrain seen on the right.

This smooth area shows no obvious signs of erosion and has been spared from being hit by rocks from space. This indicates that the surface is very young and is probably getting younger every year.

“Between these two extremes are two semicircular cliffs, the larger of which is approximately 20 km wide,” the researchers said.

“Within the curves of these cliffs are frost-covered dunes.”

“The sheer scale of the cliffs is evident from the dark shadow they cast on the ground below. Sheer walls of ice can reach up to a kilometer in height.”

“These two cliffs are located in what's called a polar trough, a landform formed when wind pushes and wears down the earth's surface.”

“These appear as wavy ridges in the landscape and are common in this region, creating the characteristic spiral pattern of the polar plateau.”

Source: www.sci.news