Finding and displaying dinosaur fossils in museums and films is a collaborative process between researchers and artists, as explained by panel members.
Antarctica is an extreme environment, with 99 percent of it covered in ice. It is the windiest and coldest place on Earth, with only a few living organisms able to survive in this frozen landscape. But 200 million years ago, Antarctica was different. It was wetter, warmer, and had forests that were inhabited by dinosaurs. Scientific studies suggest that there was a time when Antarctica, which was then part of a larger southern landmass, was free of ice and dinosaurs roamed here. It’s incredible to think that a place now covered in ice was once warm enough to support these giant creatures.
About the time
To understand this better, we need to go back in geological time to the ice-free period in Antarctica. This was during the Cretaceous Period, which lasted from 145 to 65 million years ago. It was a long time ago when an asteroid hit the Earth and led to the end of the dinosaurs’ time on this planet.
Fossils of reptiles and trees found in this period provide insights into the climate at the time. Scientists also analyze the shells of fossil organisms that lived in the ocean to understand past climate conditions. By studying the chemistry of these shells, scientists can determine the age intervals of different species.
The discovery
Dr. Brian Huber from the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History studied the Cretaceous period, focusing on deep-sea sites around Antarctica. His research indicates that foraminifera, microscopic organisms with shells, provide valuable information about the climate. Surprisingly, the Southern Ocean around Antarctica was much warmer during the middle of the Cretaceous, challenging initial beliefs. The increase in temperature was a result of the greenhouse effect caused by higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Ice-free Antarctica?
According to Huber, the high temperatures in the middle of the Cretaceous were due to the greenhouse effect from increased carbon dioxide. We are all aware of climate change happening in the present and realize it happened in the past as well. We know that the primary cause is the increase in CO2 emissions. Every year, we release huge amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere, and it’s just a matter of time before history repeats itself. The Himalayas and Antarctica are already experiencing significant melting. Although Antarctica may become ice-free again in the future, dinosaurs will not come back to life.
Image Source: Goldilock Project / Shutterstock
