East Antarctic Ice Sheet May Stay Frozen Even with Climate Change

It turns out that while Antarctica was once a balmier place, the East Antarctic Ice Sheet has remained frozen for at least 14 million years. The findings reveal just how long this continent has remained frozen, and may show just how much change is occurring with current climate conditions.

In this latest study, the researchers used an innovative technique to date one of Antarctica's ancient lake deposits. The researchers found that the deposits have remained frozen for at least the last 14 million years.

"The Pliocene is sometimes thought to be an analog to what Earth will be like if global warming continues," said Jane K. Willenbring, one of the researchers, in a news release. "This gives us some hope that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet could be stable in today's and future climate conditions."

Current climate change projections indicate that the marine portion of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet will disappear. And studies from the past few years suggest that sea level will likely rise a few meters as that ice melts. However, the East Antarctic Ice Sheet is 20 times more massive. If it melted, the ensuing sea level rise could be catastrophic.

The researchers looked at the past in order to see if there was any danger for future melting. They found that the place had been frozen for 14 million years. This, in particular, offers some hope that a massive collapse of the ice sheet may not be imminent.

The findings are published in the journal Scientific Reports.

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