Deep mantle waves lifted East Antarctica, sparking ice sheet formation millions of years ago
A new study argues that slow-moving mantle waves raised East Antarctica, creating elevations that permitted permanent ice to develop far earlier than in the Arctic.
An international team led by the University of Southampton modeled the evolution of East Antarctica’s topography over a 100-million-year span, identifying mantle waves as the primary driver of gradual uplift. As the continent separated from Africa during the Jurassic, these deep-Earth motions lifted vast regions, forming a high plateau and the Gamburtsev Mountains. By roughly 45 million years ago, large portions of East Antarctica rose above the critical 2 km elevation, allowing mountain glaciers to coalesce into the East Antarctic Ice Sheet around 34 million years ago.
The expanding ice sheet reflected sunlight, producing an ice-albedo cooling feedback of about 1 °C, while reduced atmospheric water vapor further intensified the chill. This combination of geological uplift and climate feedbacks accounts for Antarctica’s early glaciation, contrasting with the later development of Arctic ice sheets. The findings suggest that Earth’s interior can precondition landscapes for major climate transitions, reshaping our understanding of past ice ages and future tipping points.
Why it matters
It shows how deep-Earth processes can trigger major climate shifts, informing models of past and future ice ages.
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