What is an ice core?
Q: What is an ice core?
A: An ice core is a long piece of ice taken from a glacier. It is drilled very deep, so that the ice core goes back to old ice at the bottom of the glacier.
Q: Where are most ice cores taken from?
A: Ice cores are usually taken from Antarctica, Greenland or very high mountains.
Q: How does snow accumulate and become an ice core?
A: Snow falls on ground and accumulates (gets deeper). As more snow falls, the bottom layers get compacted (thinner) because of the weight on top. In the end, only ice remains, and all air goes away. The deeper the ice, the older it is.
Q: How can scientists date an ice core?
A: Scientists can date an ice core by looking at its layers - often every season can be seen in the ice core because it forms a layer. At other times it may be more difficult to find out how old the ice is, so other methods like measuring conductivity or making mathematical models may need to be used.
Q: What information do scientists learn from studying anicecore?
A: By studying anicecore, scientists can learn about past climates as well as gases, particles and ash from volcanoes that have been trapped in the layers oftheicecore. TheycanalsousethetypeofwaterthatformstheicetocalculatethetemperatureofEarthinthepast800thousandyearsandlearnmoreaboutperiodiciceages.
Q: How does knowledge of past climates help us understand global warming?
A: Knowing about past climates helps us better understand global warming by giving us insight into how climate has changed over time and what factors may have contributed to those changes in order to better predict future climate change patterns due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation.
