SWAIS2C Extracts 228-Meter Antarctic Core, Unlocking 23 Million Years of Climate History
Updated
Updated · en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br · May 9
SWAIS2C Extracts 228-Meter Antarctic Core, Unlocking 23 Million Years of Climate History
1 articles · Updated · en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br · May 9
228 meters of sediment and rock were recovered from beneath 523 meters of West Antarctic ice at Crary Ice Rise, setting a record more than 22 times longer than previous sub-ice-shelf cores.
The continuous core spans 23 million years and preserves intact layers from warmer periods above 2°C over pre-industrial levels, giving researchers direct evidence of past retreat and regrowth of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.
Initial analysis found alternating open-sea and ice-covered deposits, data that could sharply improve models now relying largely on indirect evidence from satellites and ice probes.
The core was drilled between 2024 and January 2026, flown out in refrigerated sections, and is now being analyzed in laboratories across four countries; full isotope, microfossil and dating results may take up to five years.
The findings matter globally because the West Antarctic Ice Sheet covers 1.9 million square kilometers and holds enough ice to raise sea levels by about 3.3 meters if it melted completely.
A new Antarctic core challenges climate models. Could our worst-case sea-level rise predictions actually be wrong?
With tipping points already crossed, what does a 23-million-year climate record reveal about the speed of our sinking coastlines?
Antarctica’s Longest Sediment Core: Unlocking 23 Million Years of Climate Secrets and Sea-Level Risk
Overview
In early 2026, the SWAIS2C project achieved a major milestone by extracting Antarctica’s longest sediment core, measuring 228 meters. This core sets a new standard in polar research and provides an unprecedented look into Earth’s climate history, revealing about 23 million years of environmental changes. By analyzing the layers, scientists can reconstruct past ice sheet behavior, sea levels, and temperature shifts. These insights are crucial for understanding the long-term stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and will help improve predictions of future sea-level rise as the climate continues to change.