Arctic muds reveal sea ice record. (15th Oct:'07) A new technique to track changes in the extent of Arctic sea ice over the past 1,000 years is being developed by a UK team from the University of Plymouth.
The scientists are studying sediments from the sea bed in the fabled Northwest Passage
The scientists are studying sediments from the sea bed in the fabled Northwest Passage
In bitterly cold weather, Professor Simon Belt, Dr Guillaume Masse and colleagues are using a box-core - a large metal scoop - to extract the upper layers of mud from the ocean floor.
The sediments are then divided into slices - each slice representing about 15 years' accumulation.
Professor Belt says the technique should allow a sea-ice record to be generated stretching back hundreds of years - certainly far further back than the 20-30 years of satellite data so far gathered.
"The indications are that the natural cycles of change over the past have been very rapid - but the likelihood is that we're now seeing the effects of manmade warming on top of that."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7044808.stm
