Rainforests once existed in Antarctica

Rainforests once existed in Antarctica

An international team of researchers found evidence that rainforests once existed in West Antarctica. The mid-Cretaceous time period, from circa 115 million to 80 million years ago, is considered the warmest period in the past 140 million years. Sea surface…

Giant trench discovered under Antarctic ice

Giant trench discovered under Antarctic ice

UK scientists have discovered a giant trench under the ice in West Antarctica. The Ellsworth Trough trench is up to three kilometers deep and more than 300 kilometers long and up to 25 kilometers across (deeper than the Grand Canyon). The floor of this

Three-year observation of West Antarctic Ice Sheet loss by CryoSat

Three-year observation of West Antarctic Ice Sheet loss by CryoSat

Three years of measurements by ESA's "CryoSat" satellite show that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is estimated to be losing over 150 cubic kilometers of ice each year which is considerably more than when last surveyed.CryoSat observes Earth with a radar alti

Japan earthquake sped up Antarctica ice stream

Japan earthquake sped up Antarctica ice stream

The 9.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked Japan on Friday (March 11) and sent a tsunami travelling across the Pacific Ocean had another long-range effect: It momentarily caused a glacier in Antarctica to speed its flow, researchers have said.The Whillans glacier,