Unlocking Earth’s Climate Secrets: Scientists Drill 2 Miles Into Ice Core to Reveal 1.2 Million Years of Climate History

A team of scientists recently achieved a remarkable feat in Antarctica. They have successfully extracted ice that may be the oldest in the world, marking a significant milestone in climate research.

By drilling nearly two miles down, they retrieved a 2.8-km ice core that reaches all the way down to the bedrock. The air bubbles trapped in this ice serve as tiny time capsules, holding secrets about Earth’s past atmosphere.

This ice core provides a continuous climate record stretching back 1.2 million years. It offers a new lens through which we can explore the climate cycles that have shaped our planet.

This mission is part of the ‘Beyond EPICA – Oldest Ice’ project, which is funded by the European Commission. This was their fourth expedition to Antarctica, and the team spent over 200 days drilling and analyzing ice cores across four seasons.

Working at high altitudes of 3,200 meters, they faced an average summer temperature of -35°C. Yet, their determination led to groundbreaking discoveries.

The findings from Beyond EPICA will shed light on the Mid-Pleistocene Transition, a crucial period from 900,000 to 1.2 million years ago. During this time, the cycles of glaciation changed dramatically—from occurring every 41,000 years to every 100,000 years. Understanding this shift is vital for climate science.

Carlo Barbante, the project coordinator and professor at Ca’ Foscari University, emphasized the significance of this achievement. “This is the longest continuous climate record from an ice core, revealing the connection between the carbon cycle and Earth’s temperature,” he stated.

There’s even speculation that the core’s base might hold even older ice, dating back 2.58 million years. This could provide further insights into our planet’s climatic history.

Want to see their work in action? Check out this video showcasing their efforts!