In recent years, climate change has been at the forefront of global concerns, and one of the most critical regions affected by this phenomenon is Antarctica. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have made a groundbreaking discovery that sheds new light on the mechanisms behind the collapse of Antarctic ice shelves, which are crucial for predicting sea level rise in the Northern Hemisphere.

On November 28, 1966, an American aeroplane flew over the Antarctic Peninsula, capturing an aerial photo of the Wordie Ice Shelf. This image, taken just south of the southernmost tip of Chile, marked the beginning of a unique dataset that would provide unparalleled insights into the collapse of ice shelves. The researcher’s analysis of historical aerial photos and satellite data has revealed that melting under the ice where the sea and ice meet is the primary driver of Wordie’s collapse.

The study’s findings have already altered the foundation of scientists’ knowledge about ice shelf collapse, suggesting that these events may be slower than previously thought. However, this longer process will make it even harder to reverse the trend once it has started, highlighting the urgent need to prioritize halting greenhouse gas emissions now rather than sometime in the future.

The consequences of ice shelf collapse are far-reaching and have significant implications for global sea level rise. As the glaciers lose their support, they can begin to float and melt more rapidly, contributing to rising ocean levels. Although Antarctica is far away, areas like Denmark are being affected significantly by sea level rise caused by gravitational forces.

In conclusion, the study’s findings mark a new era of climate adaptation, emphasizing the need for urgent action to address the consequences of ice shelf collapse. By prioritizing halting greenhouse gas emissions now rather than sometime in the future, we can reduce the risk of violent sea level rise and mitigate its impact on global communities.

The Fig Trees That Fight Climate Change: A Revolutionary Carbon-Sequestering Mechanism

In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have found that certain species of fig trees possess an extraordinary ability – they can turn themselves into stone, literally. This remarkable phenomenon, known as the oxalate-carbonate pathway, allows these trees to draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in the surrounding soil as calcium carbonate rocks.

The research team, comprising scientists from Kenya, the US, Austria, and Switzerland, has been studying this unique ability of fig trees. They found that by using CO2 to create calcium oxalate crystals, which are then converted into calcium carbonate by specialized bacteria or fungi, these trees can sequester inorganic carbon more effectively than their counterparts that store organic carbon.

Dr. Mike Rowley, a senior lecturer at the University of Zurich, is leading the research effort. He explained that while trees have long been recognized for their ability to absorb CO2 through photosynthesis, the oxalate-carbonate pathway offers an additional benefit – the sequestration of inorganic carbon in the form of calcium carbonate.

This discovery has significant implications for climate change mitigation efforts. By choosing trees with this unique ability for agroforestry, we can not only produce food but also sequester more CO2 from the atmosphere. The team’s research highlights the potential for these trees to play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The study, which was presented at the Goldschmidt conference in Prague, focused on three species of fig trees grown in Samburu County, Kenya. The researchers identified how far from the tree the calcium carbonate was being formed and identified the microbial communities involved in the process.

One of the key findings was that Ficus wakefieldii, a specific type of fig tree, was the most effective at sequestering CO2 as calcium carbonate. The team is now planning to assess the suitability of this tree for agroforestry by quantifying its water requirements and fruit yields and conducting a more detailed analysis of how much CO2 can be sequestered under different conditions.

This research has far-reaching implications, not only for climate change mitigation but also for our understanding of the complex relationships between trees, microorganisms, and the environment. As Dr. Rowley noted, “There are many more species of trees that can form calcium carbonate, so this pathway could be a significant, underexplored opportunity to help mitigate CO2 emissions as we plant trees for forestry or fruit.”

A new study has challenged the long-held notion that a massive ice shelf once sealed the Arctic Ocean during the coldest periods of the last 750,000 years. Researchers from the European Research Council Synergy Grant project Into the Blue — i2B have found no evidence for the presence of a giant ~1km thick ice shelf, instead discovering that seasonal sea ice dominated the region.

The study, published in Science Advances, used sediment cores collected from the seafloor of the central Nordic Seas and Yermak Plateau, north of Svalbard. These cores hold tiny chemical fingerprints from algae that lived in the ocean long ago. Some of these algae only grow in open water, while others thrive under seasonal sea ice.

“Our sediment cores show that marine life was active even during the coldest times,” said Jochen Knies, lead author of the study, based at UiT The Arctic University of Norway and co-lead of the Into The Blue — i2B project. “That tells us there must have been light and open water at the surface. You wouldn’t see that if the entire Arctic was locked under a kilometre-thick slab of ice.”

One of the key indicators the team looked for was a molecule called IP25, which is produced by algae that live in seasonal sea ice. Its regular appearance in the sediments shows that sea ice came and went with the seasons, rather than staying frozen solid all year round.

To test their findings, the research team used the AWI Earth System Model to simulate Arctic conditions during two especially cold periods: the Last Glacial Maximum around 21,000 years ago, and a deeper freeze about 140,000 years ago when large ice sheets covered a lot of the Arctic. The models supported what was found in the sediments – even during these extreme glaciations, warm Atlantic water still flowed into the Arctic gateway.

The study not only reshapes our view of past Arctic climates but also has implications for future climate predictions. Understanding how sea ice and ocean circulation responded to past climate extremes can improve models that project future changes in a warming world.

“These reconstructions help us understand what’s possible — and what’s not — when it comes to ice cover and ocean dynamics,” said Gerrit Lohmann, co-author of this study, based at Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) and co-lead of Into The Blue — i2B. “That matters when trying to anticipate how ice sheets and sea ice might behave in the future.”

The full paper, “Seasonal sea ice characterized the glacial Arctic-Atlantic gateway over the past 750,000 years,” is available in Science Advances. This research is part of the European Research Council Synergy Grant project Into the Blue — i2B and the Research Council of Norway Centre of Excellence, iC3: Centre for ice, Cryosphere, Carbon, and Climate.