February 16, 2025
Scientists have retrieved 1.2-million-year-old ice by drilling deep at a site called Little Dome C in Antarctica. The ice core that was obtained measured 9,186ft in length and is believed to be the oldest ice in the world. An ice core, a cylindrical-shaped piece of ice obtained from glaciers or ice sheets by drilling, helps scientists understand the changes that have occurred in the climate over thousands of years. The air bubbles present in the ice core extracted by scientists will help them understand the characteristics of the ancient atmosphere and what it was made up of. Examining the ice will help scientists identify the amount of methane, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases present in the ancient atmosphere and their impact on the Earth’s climate over time.
DID YOU KNOW?
Due to its harsh environmental conditions, Antarctica does not have any native human inhabitants.
Image for representational purposes
