A quest begins to break the “oldest ice” in Antarctica

Ice in Antarctica which is Earth’s climate record 1.5 million years ago. A European team will place their equipment at one of the highest points on the White Continent for an operation that is expected to take four years.

The project aims to recover a nearly 3 km long cylinder from frozen material. Scientists hope that this ice can help them explain why Earth’s ice ages reversed in frequency in the past. Beyond EPICA, as this project is called, is a continuation of a similar initiative at the beginning of the millennium. EPICA (European Antarctic Ice Core Project).

The new project will be located not far from the original in Little Dome C. About 40 kilometers from the Italian-French Concordia station in the East Antarctic plateau. Minor Dome C would be a barren place to work at 3,233 m above sea level and over 1,000 km from the coast.

Moreover, even in summer, the temperature will not exceed -35C.

The camp where the scientific team will be based was established in 2019/20. The following season will essentially be associate with the installation of the necessary drilling infrastructure. But the technicians tried to at least start their main search by going beyond the first 100 meters.

The goal is for the borehole to pass through a slightly dense layer of snow or into an impenetrable ice sheet, which scientists are very interested in. The ice in Antarctica contains tiny air bubbles. These little gas bags are a direct photo of the historical atmosphere.

Scientists can measure levels of carbon dioxide and other heat-storing components such as methane. Analysis of the atoms in the water-ice molecules surrounding the gas. Also provides an indication of the temperature maintained during the snowfall leading to the ice.