Subglacial Rocks Under Antarctic Ice Sheet Uncover Unexpected History

Researchers from the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC) have revealed that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, specifically near the Thwaites Glacier, was significantly thinner in the past and has since regrown. Analyzing rock samples, they found that the ice had been at least 35 meters thinner over the last 5,000 years, taking approximately 3,000 years to reach its current size. This suggests that glacial retreat could potentially be reversed; however, concerns remain due to the impending impacts of climate change on sea level rise.

The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is currently shrinking rapidly, significantly contributing to sea level rise, which threatens millions in low-lying coastal areas. To predict future behavior of glaciers like Thwaites under various climatic conditions, scientists must study geological records, as satellite data only covers recent decades. The ITGC team utilized specialized drills to obtain rock samples from beneath the glacier and measured specific atoms created when rocks were exposed to cosmic radiation, revealing periods when ice coverage was less than today.

While the findings indicate potential for ice sheet regrowth, the lengthy recovery time poses challenges amid the anticipated warming of the coming centuries, raising alarms about the urgent need for climate action to mitigate sea level rise.



https://instegro.net/subglacial-rocks-under-antarctic-ice-sheet-uncover-unexpected-history/?fsp_sid=72354