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Study of Antarctic ice鈥檚 deep past shows it could be more vulnerable to warming

Insights into how the West Antarctic Ice Sheet responded to a warmer climate millions of years ago could improve predictions of its future. Here, USF College of Marine Science Associate Professor, Amelia Shevenell, chief sedimentologist, and Victoria University (NZ) Associate Professor and Antarctic Research Center Director, Rob McKay, co-chief scientist, examine sediment recovered from the Ross Sea during International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 374 in 2018 (Credit: Mark Leckie)

Insights into how the West Antarctic Ice Sheet responded to a warmer climate millions of years ago could improve predictions of its future. Here, USF College of Marine Science Associate Professor, Amelia Shevenell, chief sedimentologist, and Victoria University (NZ) Associate Professor and Antarctic Research Center Director, Rob McKay, co-chief scientist, examine sediment recovered from the Ross Sea during International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 374 in 2018 (Credit: Mark Leckie)

  • December 15, 2021
  • News

In a study published today in , an international team of scientists, including USF College of Marine Science (USF CMS) Associate Professor Amelia Shevenell and graduate student Imogen Browne, documented the evolution of Antarctica鈥檚 ice sheets  about 20 million years ago.

USF College of Marine Science Graduate Student, Imogen Browne, onboard the JOIDES Resolution Drill Ship during IODP Expedition 374 (Credit: IODP)

USF College of Marine Science Graduate Student, Imogen Browne, onboard the JOIDES Resolution Drill Ship during IODP Expedition 374 (Credit: IODP)

At this time, called the early Miocene, Earth experienced both warm and cold climates. Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide were similar to those expected by 2100, if greenhouse gas emissions continue at the present rate. During warm Miocene climates, sea level rose by up to 60 metres 鈥� the equivalent of melting all the ice presently on the Antarctic continent.

Until now, the contributions of the larger East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) and the smaller West Antarcti