downtoearth-subscribe

Rediscovering Antarctica

Scientists have begun their endeavour to find out whether Antarctica was covered with ice 34 million years ago. They are also eager to know if there was glaciation in Antarctica, causing global changes in sea level before this time. Fifty geologists and geographers will take part in a drilling project at Cape Roberts to trace evidence about past changes in climate, fluctuations in sea level and the formation of the transantarctic mountains. During the project, scientists will to discover what the continent was like about 70 to 80 million years ago, when its climate was much warmer ( New Scientist , Vol 155, No 2096).