Forces deep inside Earth helped Antarctica freeze before the Arctic
A new study suggests that tectonic uplift caused by 'mantle waves' raised the terrain of East Antarctica, creating conditions for ice sheets to form millions of years before the Arctic. This explains how Antarctica glaciated while global temperatures were still significantly warmer than today.
Why it matters
Understanding the geological history of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet is crucial for predicting how it might respond to modern climate change and its potential impact on global sea levels.
Scientists have found a new explanation for why Antarctica became covered in ice millions of years before the Arctic.
The international study, published in Science , addresses a long-standing climate mystery: how Antarctica could develop a massive ice sheet at a time when Earth was around 5 C warmer than it is today.
The findings point to the gradual formation of high terrain in East Antarctica. As an escarpment, plateau, and mountain system rose, it created elevations cold enough for snow and ice to persist and build up over time.
The process began after Antarctica and Africa started separating during the Jurassic Period, 201-143 million years ago. Powerful forces deep inside Earth gradually lifted much of East Antarctica over more than 100 million years, helping set the stage for ice sheet formation about 34 million years ago.
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