An international team of scientists announced on Thursday that they have successfully drilled one of the oldest ice cores to date, reaching depths of nearly 2 miles (2.8 kilometers) to the Antarctic bedrock to extract ice believed to be at least 1.2 million years old. The analysis of this ancient ice is anticipated to shed light on the evolution of Earth’s atmosphere and climate over time. This exploration is expected to provide valuable insights into the changes in Ice Age cycles and contribute to a better understanding of how atmospheric carbon has influenced climate fluctuations, the scientists shared.
Carlo Barbante, an Italian glaciologist and the coordinator of Beyond EPICA, the initiative responsible for obtaining the ice core, expressed, “Thanks to the ice core, we will gain a comprehensive understanding of the alterations in greenhouse gases, chemicals, and dust particles within the atmosphere.” Barbante, who also heads the Polar Science Institute at Italy’s National Research Council, highlighted the significance of this endeavor for advancing scientific knowledge in the field.
Having previously drilled a core estimated to be around 800,000 years old, the team embarked on their latest drilling mission, penetrating 2.8 kilometers into the ice over a span of four years. The endeavor involved a team of 16 scientists and support staff, facing harsh conditions with temperatures averaging around minus-35 Celsius (minus-25.6 Fahrenheit) during each summer drilling season.
Federico Scoto, an Italian researcher who was part of the team that completed the drilling in early January at a location near Concordia Research Station known as Little Dome C, reflected on the achievement, stating, “Reaching the bedrock was a monumental moment for us.” The age of the ice was determined to be a minimum of 1.2 million years old through isotope analysis, underscoring the remarkable preservation of this ancient ice core.
Building on the insights gained from the analysis of the previous Epica campaign’s ice core, Barbante and Scoto emphasized that the concentrations of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, have not surpassed levels observed since the Industrial Revolution commenced, even during the warmest periods of the last 800,000 years. Barbante noted the alarming increase in carbon dioxide levels in recent times, stating, “Today, we are witnessing carbon dioxide levels that are 50% higher than the highest levels recorded over the past 800,000 years.”
The European Union, in collaboration with nations across the continent, provided funding for Beyond EPICA (European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica), with Italy spearheading the coordination of the project. The significant milestone achieved by the team elicited excitement from Richard Alley, a climate scientist at Penn State, who commended the advancements in ice core research for enhancing scientists’ understanding of past climate conditions and human impacts on current climate change dynamics. Alley emphasized the broader implications of reaching the bedrock, highlighting the potential to unveil additional insights into Earth’s history beyond the ice record itself.
“This achievement is truly remarkable
