Antarctic ice shelf found to have melted previously

progressive

(Tue, 13 May 2008 13:35:01 -0500 (CDT)) ---
www.mathaba.net

Antarctic ice shelf found to have melted previously

WELLINGTON, May 13 (Xinhua) --

New Zealand scientists have confirmed a large part of Antarctica's ice
sheet disappeared in the past, Radio New Zealand reported on Tuesday.

Core samples from a hole drilled into the ocean bed under an Antarctic ice
shelf appear to prove the sheet above has melted and been rebuilt over
millions of years.

Victoria University Antarctic Research Center Director Tim Naish said
earlier studies suggested that the sheet would come and go, but it had not
been confirmed until now.

The findings are significant as they date from a time when climate and
carbon dioxide levels were at a level the Earth will reach again in the
next 100 years, he added.

MichaelP (papadop@peak.org).

You may contact Vunet.org staff via E-mail address (MSN, Yahoo! or email) : ">Contact Us.