Research from Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory reveals that the Laurentide Ice Sheet may have begun re-expanding ~2,000 years ago after reaching its minimum size ~3,600 years ago, potentially signaling the start of a new ice age. However, human-caused climate warming since ~1960 appears to have reversed this natural glacial advance. The findings are based on cold-based ice samples from Baffin Island's Barnes Ice Cap that preserved a continuous geological record.
Background
The Laurentide Ice Sheet was the largest ice sheet of the last glacial period, covering much of northern North America. Its behavior and the timing of future glaciations are key questions in paleoclimate research.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Oct 24, 2026 at 07:00 PM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10