New evidence sheds light on puzzling discovery in Greenland’s ice sheet
Discovery in Greenland’s ice sheet sparks scientific debate
- A puzzling platinum spike discovered in Greenland ice cores, dated to around 12,800 years ago, has sparked scientific debate regarding its origin and connection to the Younger Dryas cold period.
- Previous hypotheses suggested this platinum signature was evidence of an extraterrestrial impact, but new research offers a volcanic explanation.
- Scientists have ruled out the German Laacher See eruption as the source of the platinum and found the spike occurred 45 years after the Younger Dryas began, lasting 14 years, suggesting a prolonged volcanic event, likely from Iceland.
- The research indicates that a massive volcanic sulphate spike, coinciding precisely with the onset of the Younger Dryas, was the probable trigger for the cold period, rather than the platinum anomaly.
- Understanding these past climate triggers, whether from volcanic eruptions or impacts, is crucial for anticipating and preparing for future climate changes.