The Mystery of Antarctic Has Been Solved?
By admin • Feb 29th, 2008 • Category: Geology
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Scientists think they may have solved some of the mystery surrounding the creation of the Antarctic ice sheet 34 million years ago.
Scientists from Cardiff University and National Museum Wales have been studying ice sheet formation in the frozen continent.
Researchers working in Africa found new evidence of climate change which may explain the original appearance of the Antarctic ice sheet.
Previous temperature records show no evidence of the oceans cooling 34 million years ago, but instead suggest they actually warmed.
Now scientists found (by studding the mud and the shell chemistry of pin-head sized animals called foraminifera) that the world’s oceans did cool (by about 2.50 C.) during the growth of an ice sheet.
Using new data, the scientists were able to construct records of temperature and ice volume over the climate period 34 million years ago. These records reveal that the oceans cooled, creating enough ice to fit onto Antarctica.
The team will now look for evidence of the ultimate cause of the global cooling using these microfossils.
photo credit: pingnews.com
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