Antarctica’s Meteorites at Risk from Global Warming
Meteorites are highly prized by scientists for the valuable information they contain about the development of our solar system. However, global warming is putting Antarctica’s meteorites at risk. A new study predicts that close to three-quarters of the continent’s meteorites could disappear from the ice sheet surface by the end of the century, making it difficult to locate and retrieve these precious space rocks.
The researchers used a machine learning algorithm to forecast how Antarctic meteorites will be affected by simulated climate conditions. These meteorites accumulated in stranding zones on the continent thousands of years ago and are now embedded in the ice. They are commonly found in “blue ice” areas, where wind uncovers older ice that appears blue against the white landscape.
Meteorites are highly sensitive to temperature, and exposure to sunlight can cause their dark surface to warm up, melting the ice beneath them and causing them to sink below the surface. The study found that under all emissions scenarios, at least 5,000 meteorites will disappear annually. With every tenth of a degree increase in temperature, the loss of meteorites could range from 5,100 to 12,200, and under a high-emissions scenario, 76 percent of the areas currently covered by meteorites could be lost.
The potential loss of meteorites would be devastating for space scientists as these rocks contain valuable information about star formation, planetary development and even Earth’s geological history dating back billions of years. Researchers emphasize the importance of collecting as many specimens as possible before they become inaccessible due to climate change.
Glaciologist Harry Zekollari led this research at ETH Zurich’s department of civil, environmental, and geomatic engineering highlighted