Antarctic polar ice layers aged 33,6 million years

Ice layers

CALIFORNIA - Ice cap or ice layer in the south pole of the oldest found 33,6 million years old. New study performed scientists of University of Granada and the Spanish National Research Council is reported in the journal Science.

Using carbon dating technology, scientists have been discovered that this ice is formed during the Oligocene period. Oligocene was a period of time of 34 until 23 million years ago.

Scientists say, before Antarctica was covered with ice, region the most south of the Earth was filled with a variety of flora or fauna belongs to a warm tropical climate.

Then, after the temperatures began to fall, local plants and animals must choose between adapting to new environmental conditions or die. Several species of flora or fauna disappears and only a handful of which succeed survive.

Plankton currently still can be found in the Antarctic region. Activity of organisms that live in this water are determined by local seasonal climate, which means that they can only evolve when the ice melts.

"The fossil record of dinoflagellate cyst reflects a substantial reduction. Specialization of this species occurs when icebergs are formed," said researcher Carlota Escutia.

According to him, formation of this ice layer indicating seasonal ice formation. The formation of this layer also shows the start of a liquefaction, which occurs seasonally.