2023-12-25 18:47:02
Welcome
Monde
Environment
For scientists, the scenario of rapid melting and collapse of part of Antarctica is very real and could undoubtedly be faster than imagined.
Published on 12/25/2023 7:47 p.m.
Reading time: 1 min A scientific study published in December 2023 highlights the role of octopuses in understanding climate change. (DAVE BARNES / BRITISH ANTARCTIC SURVEY)
Antarctica has had a turbulent history between periods of glaciation and global warming. Scientists are seeking to anticipate what the polar cap could become with the current increase in temperatures. And for this, they can count on help as precious as it is unexpected, that of octopuses. Thanks to these animals, scientists have discovered that part of the ice cap could melt faster than expected. This is the conclusion of a study published Thursday December 21 in the magazine Science.
To do this, scientists studied the genome of Turquet octopuses, which live around theAntarctic in different seas, now separated by ice. These communities therefore evolve isolated from each other. But in fact, by studying the DNA of these octopuses, scientists came to the conclusion that in the past they could mate freely. In other words, West Antarctica was ice-free 125,000 years ago. The Amundsen, Ross and Weddell Seas were then connected by ice-free sea passages.
A collapse of part of Antarctica faster than expected
Understanding current phenomena allows us to compare the two eras. 125,000 years ago, the planet experienced a period of warming. Temperatures then were about 1.5 degrees warmer than those of the pre-industrial revolution. Which is not unlike something…
Indeed, 1.5 degrees more than in the pre-industrial era is almost the average increase in temperatures that the Earth is experiencing at the moment. For scientists, the scenario of rapid melting and collapse of part of Antarctica is therefore very real and could undoubtedly be faster than imagined. This melting 125,000 years ago led to a rise in sea levels of 5 to 10 meters.
View comments
France Télévisions collects your email address to send you the “La Quotidienne Environnement” newsletter. At any time, you can unsubscribe via the link at the bottom of these newsletters. To know more, See our privacy policy.
1703533305
#octopuses #unexpected #markers #climate #change