Antarctic Ice Core Provides Longest Continuous Climate Record
Researchers have extracted a 2.8-kilometre-deep ice core providing an uninterrupted record of Earth's atmospheric conditions stretching back 1.2 million years.
Record-Breaking Discovery
Scientists have recovered the oldest continuous ice core record ever obtained, providing a window into Earth's climate and atmospheric composition for at least 1.2 million years. The record was extracted from a core drilled to a depth of 2.8 kilometres in Antarctica.
To obtain the data, the Beyond EPICA project conducted a melting process that spanned seven weeks and covered 190 metres of the ice core. This process revealed an unbroken sequence of climate cycles, confirming that the researchers had secured a complete record of past atmospheric conditions.
Scientific Significance
The ancient air trapped within the ice core contains data on greenhouse gas concentrations and carbon dioxide. According to reports, the core reveals sharp swings in carbon dioxide levels.
Researchers state that this data could help explain a "mysterious shift" in the rhythm of Earth's ice ages. By analyzing these fluctuations, scientists aim to better understand the evolution of the planet's climate over a million-year timescale.
Next Steps for Analysis
The recovered data is now scheduled for comprehensive analysis at various laboratories across Europe. This includes work at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).
Scientists will use these facilities to unlock further details regarding greenhouse gas concentrations and the specific mechanisms that drove historical climate evolution.
Sources (8)Open
- 1.Nature — Ice core reveals longest-ever continuous record of Earth’s climate
- 2.Zmescience — Earth’s Longest Ice Age May Have Repeatedly Thawed and Refrozen for 56 Million Years
- 3.Nature — Daily briefing: Ice core is the longest-ever continuous record of ...
- 4.Polarjournal — 1.2 million years of climate history extracted from Antarctic ice core ...
- 5.Ac — A historic moment: over 1.2 million years of Earth's climate history ...
- 6.Linkedin — Ice core is the longest-ever continuous record of Earth's climate - LinkedIn
- 7.Science — Ancient ice core could help explain mysterious shift in Earth's ice ages
- 8.Facebook — Scientists in Antarctica uncover a 1.2-million-year-old ice core ...
Topics
How NewsNews AI made this storyOpen
NewsNews AI researched this story across 8 sources, drafted it, and ran the result through an independent editorial pass. It cleared editorial review on first pass.
- 8 sources cited · linked in full at the bottom of the article
- Image license verified · cc-by
- Independent editorial pass · approved
From the editor
Verified all factual claims against available snippets. The 1.2-million-year continuous record, 2.8-kilometre depth, Beyond EPICA's 190-metre/seven-week melting process, CO₂ swings, ice-age rhythm shift, and European lab analysis are all supported by their cited sources. Source 1 has no snippet but is only referenced indirectly via the headline/URL, which aligns with the article's framing. No fabricated quotes, no contradictions, no single-source saturation, and no editorializing detected. The headline and dek accurately reflect the body.
Feedback
We want to hear from you, especially when something is wrong. No signup, no email required.
Keep reading
Ensitrelvir Pill Reduces COVID-19 Infection Risk After Exposure
A phase 3 trial of the drug ensitrelvir, known as Xocova, showed a 67% reduction in COVID-19 infection risk for people treated after exposure.
AI Capabilities in Designing Bioweapons Raise Global Security Concerns
Experts and government officials warn that AI's ability to design novel viruses and toxins could empower bad actors to create biological agents more dangerous than those found in nature.
Scientists Identify Evidence of New Continental Rift Forming in Zambia
Analysis of geothermal springs suggests the Southwest African Rift Zone may be in the early stages of a continental breakup that could eventually split Africa.