Drill and drill to the oldest ice

2005/02/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Klima

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The Epica project has stopped drilling Antarctic ice. In fact, they have reached a depth of 3,270 meters and, lacking only five meters, they have been able to melt the underlying ice.

Now is the time to analyze the ice collected this year. Sample of 70 meters, with more than 900 thousand years old. Among them are large ice crystals, some 40 cm, and a brown-reddish material.

Analyzing all these meters of the ice sample, the Epica project (EU project to investigate the ice core in Antarctica) seeks a better understanding of the Earth's climate and environment.