Geologists discovered the remains of an ancient river system in West Antarctica, providing insights into Earth's history and hinting at how extreme climate change could reshape the planet.
During the middle-to-late Eocene epoch, Earth's atmosphere went through drastic transformations with plummeting CO2 levels leading to global cooling and the formation of glaciers on an ice-free planet.
Scientists aim to understand the unfolding of major climate events in Antarctica during the late Eocene period, which had almost double the amount of CO2 compared to today, similar to future predicted levels in 150-200 years if greenhouse gas emissions continue.
Challenges arise in studying early environments as most of West Antarctica is covered in ice. Accessing sedimentary rocks containing crucial data such as grains, minerals, and fossils is key to understanding past conditions.
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