Tim Lenton and Steve Smith
24 de julio de 2025
This video is part of: Centro para la Naturaleza y el Clima
Some of the samples are hundreds of thousands of years old. They can help scientists understand the history of the planet’s climate and predict the future of climate change, too. The samples are held in 2,000 boxes at the University of Copenhagen. They were drawn from ice sheets in the Arctic and Antarctic and from glaciers in Europe and South America.
Nestled within the University of Copenhagen lies a remarkable treasure trove: 25 kilometers of ancient ice, some dating back hundreds of thousands of years. This frozen archive, held in 2,000 boxes, is more than just a chilly relic of the past. It's a key to unlocking the planet's climate history and predicting the future of its delicate balance.
As glaciers and ice sheets form, they trap tiny air bubbles, preserving snapshots of the atmosphere at that time. These bubbles, along with other clues like dust particles and plant DNA, create layered records like the rings of a tree. Each layer tells a story, whispering secrets about temperatures, volcanic eruptions, and even ancient winds.
Within the ice lie hidden clues: isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen. These natural elements act like tiny thermometers, revealing past temperatures with remarkable precision. By studying these isotopic ratios, scientists can rewind time and experience the Earth's climate in a bygone era.
This ancient ice isn't just a relic of the past; it's a vital tool for understanding the present and predicting the future. By comparing pre-industrial air samples to today's atmosphere, scientists can gauge the impact of human pollution on the climate.
This invaluable data helps refine climate models and forecast the potential effects of continued warming on sea levels, weather patterns, and ecosystems.
Tim Lenton and Steve Smith
24 de julio de 2025
Muhammad Hassan Dajana and James Balzer
24 de julio de 2025
Duncan Wood
24 de julio de 2025
Will Hicks and Louise Thomas
21 de julio de 2025
Fred Krupp
21 de julio de 2025
Majlinda Bregu
21 de julio de 2025