22,000 years of history evaporates after freezer failure melts Arctic ice cores
Around 13% of cache of ice cylinders extracted from glaciers in Canadian Arctic exposed to high heat in new storage facility at University of Alberta
Ashifa Kassam in Toronto
@ashifa_k
Within them sits some 80,000 years of history, offering researchers tantalising clues about climate change and the Earths past. At least that was the case until the precious cache of Arctic ice cores was hit by warming temperatures.
A freezer malfunction at the University of Alberta in Edmonton has melted part of the worlds largest collection of ice cores from the Canadian Arctic, reducing some of the ancient ice into puddles.
For every ice-core facility on the planet, this is their No1 nightmare, said glaciologist Martin Sharp.
New study shows worrisome signs for Greenland ice
The ice cores long cylinders extracted from glaciers contain trapped gasses and particles that offer a glimpse into atmospheric history.
More:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/16/arctic-ice-cores-melt-university-alberta-canada