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Posted on 03/27/2006 1:26:18 AM PST by S0122017
Japan Scientists Find Million-Year-Old Ice Japanese Scientists Recover Million-Year-Old Ice From Antarctica, May Be Oldest Ever
TOKYO Jan 25, 2006 (AP)— A team of Japanese researchers drilling on Antarctica has recovered what is believed to be the oldest sample of ice ever possibly dating back 1 million years, officials said Tuesday.
The ice sample was taken from a depth of 9,994 feet into the Antarctic ice sheet near the Japanese camp at Fuji Dome, according to Yuji Umezaki, an official with the education and science ministry.
He said although exact dating will be conducted after the sample is returned to Japan this spring, the depth and other factors suggest it is roughly 1 million years old. The oldest sample yet recovered from Antarctica was 800,000 years old. That sample was collected by a team of scientists from the European Union.
Umezaki said the ice sample may provide important insights into climate change because it contains ancient air that was trapped in bubbles as the snows piled up deeper and deeper above. By studying the mix of gasses inside the air, scientists can follow changes in the composition of the earth's atmosphere.
Umezaki said the ice will be brought to Japan aboard the Shirase research vessel in April this year.
The Japanese have been drilling near Fuji Dome since 2003.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Ping antarctica ice
One of the things you have to realize about ice ages is that the period of maximum glaciation is not permanent. The ice advances and retreats many times during any one period. We are presently in a period of retreat.
Antarctica, being the primary target for ice build-up as well as melt, could have had bare coastline numerous times in the last 35,000 years, much of it a consequence of rising and falling ocean levels which would disrupt the ice at the margins.
This leaves unexplained how it was a survey crew got down there to check this out, but that's something to be examined at a later date. Just accept that someone made a map and we have a copy. Bet they wore their knickers, too.
I've got golf ball-sized piece of hail from 1995 in my freezer.
[overheard, translated from Japanese]
Researcher: I wonder if there's any leftovers? Hey, what are you doing?!?
Sailor: Defrosting the fridge. The Captain told me to. Why?
Antarctica May Contain “Oasis of Life”
National Geographic News | Thursday, December 27, 2007 | Christine Dell’Amore
Posted on 12/30/2007 12:07:37 AM EST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1945824/posts
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