The hunt for the oldest ice on earth has begun in Antarctica

(ANSA) – ROME, NOV 26 – The fourth and decisive campaign of the Beyond Epica project has begun in Antarctica, coordinated by the Institute of Polar Sciences of the National Research Council, which aims to reconstruct the climatic history of the Earth up to 1.5 millions of years ago: the objective is, in fact, to continue drilling into the ice, reaching a depth of 2,750 meters within this season, where the rocky layer is expected to be found. “We are faced with a very delicate and crucial mission”, says Carlo Barbante of Cnr-Isp and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, coordinator of Beyond Epica. “Our goal is to reach the bottom of the ice sheet within this campaign and transport the ice core samples to Europe while maintaining a cold chain temperature of at least -50 degrees. If the team is successful – continues Barbante – it will mark a historic moment for climate and environmental science”. The international group, made up of 16 researchers and logistics personnel, will work for two months with average temperatures of -35 degrees in the remote field of Little Dome C, located 35 kilometers from the Italian-French Concordia station and 3,200 meters above sea level. After the reopening operations, the team resumed drilling activities, already exceeding 1,900 meters of depth. In addition to Isp-Cnr and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, the campaign also sees the participation for Italy of Enea, which manages the logistics part together with the French Polar Institute. “We are currently in the sixth and penultimate year of European funding. The outcome of this campaign – concludes Chiara Venier of the Cnr-Isp, responsible for the Beyond Epica project – will be fundamental to respect the work plan and achieve the expected results”. (HANDLE).