Ancient River System Discovered Under Antarctic Ice, Offering Climate Change Insights

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 Scientists have uncovered a hidden, ancient river system beneath the West Antarctic ice sheet, revealing insights into Earth's past climate changes. This massive river, estimated to be nearly 1,000 miles long, dates back about 40 million years to the Eocene epoch, a time when Earth's atmosphere had much higher levels of carbon dioxide, creating a warm climate that supported lush temperate rainforests in Antarctica.

Discovery Details

Led by German sedimentologist Dr. Johann Klages, the research team drilled into the seafloor beneath the ice sheet in 2017, retrieving sediment cores that recorded the region's ancient environment. The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, showed fossils and spores indicating a temperate climate millions of years ago.

The upper layers of these cores revealed sediments patterned like an ancient river delta. Further analysis identified unique molecules from freshwater cyanobacteria, confirming the presence of a massive river system. This ancient river flowed approximately 930 miles from the Transantarctic Mountains to the Amundsen Sea.

Implications for Future Climate Change

This discovery highlights the dramatic climate shifts Antarctica has experienced, transforming from a lush rainforest to an icy desert. The Eocene epoch's carbon dioxide levels were similar to projections for the coming centuries, making this research crucial for understanding how future climate change could affect Antarctica.

As Dr. Klages noted, studying these ancient periods can provide valuable lessons for dealing with potential severe climate changes in the future.

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