Beyond EPICA: Ice cores on their way to Europe

The ice cores extracted in Antarctica as part of the Beyond EPICA – Oldest Ice project, funded by the European Commission and coordinated by the French Polar Institute and the National Research Council of Italy (Cnr), are currently on their way to Europe aboard the research vessel Laura Bassi.

These ice cores could reveal crucial information about the history of Earth’s climate and atmosphere, dating back more than 1.2 million years. For three months, researchers and technicians worked at an altitude of 3,200 meters, in summer conditions averaging -35°C. This project represents a major breakthrough in climate research, with the extraction of samples down to a depth of 2,800 meters, where the Antarctic ice sheet meets the underlying bedrock.

The samples will arrive in Italy on April 16 before being processed in Germany. The analyses, scheduled for the fall, will provide a better understanding of climate evolution and greenhouse gases.

The press release is available here.

To learn more about the Beyond EPICA – Oldest Ice project.