A little more than 50 million years ago, the appearance of the frozen continent was not as we know it today. If man could travel to the past and travel to Antarctica, surely he would not need to be lined with thermal and waterproof clothing as in current expeditions, sincetemperatures would be warm and pleasant. These are the conclusions of a study published inNature, which reveals that during theLower EoceneAntarctica was covered with tropical forests.
“The presence of pollen from palm trees and trees descended from the baobab indicates thatwinter temperatures in coastal areas of the continent were over 10 degrees“, explained to SINC Carlota Escutia, one of the authors of the study and researcher at the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (IACT-CSIC).55 and 48 million years, Earth experienced the warmest climate in 65 million years. In addition, the concentrations of CO2they doubled the current ones.
To reach these conclusions, the international team of scientists made different holes in the ice of the Wilkes Land (East Antarctica) and recovered the fossilized pollen of trees similar to the baobab.
In addition, studying past weather and conditions helps experts predict future weather. According to current models, in the next 100 to 200 years the concentrations of CO2in the atmosphere could become similar to those that existed when Antarctica was not covered with ice. “The study of environmental conditions in the past during periods of high temperatures and CO2provides abetter knowledge of climate processes in the past. This helps us to gain a better understanding of future climate processes, “explained Escutia.
