Scientists unravel mysteries of Antarctic alps.

Scientists studying the Gamburtsev subglacial mountains have finally unraveled the mystery of how they were formed millions of years ago.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The mountain range has frequently been compared to the European Alps for being of similar size. The big difference however is these mountains are buried 2 miles under ice. That ice is part of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, which is the largest body of ice on Earth.

If the East Antarctica Ice Sheet were to melt in its entirety, sea level rise by 187 feet.

Scientists believe the ice first formed on the Gamburtsev subglacial mountains approximately 34,000,000 years ago when carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere abruptly dropped. Because of this, scientists believe some of the oldest ice on Earth can be found there. They believe the ice can be as much as 1.2 million years old, or older. Until now the oldest ice found on Earth only goes back 800,000 years.

Studying the ancient ice gives scientists a better understanding of Earth's climate at the time it was formed, and helps them to understand why and how the climate changes over millennia.
Scientists are not content with merely studying the ice. They have probed deeper and using radar, gravity, and magnetic data from satellites, they have been able to map the very roots of the mountains.

Researchers have found that the mountains formed in the collision of several primordial continents approximately 1 billion years ago. The original mountain range he wrote it until the crush rocks that formed the base of that range were all that was left.

Then, 250 million years ago rifting under Antarctica pushed the remnants of the original range upwards reforming the primitive mountains. Today, the mountains have the size and appearance of Alps and are widely studied by scientists who are interested in how climate change affects ice sheets.

The mountain range is so high and cold, the researchers believe even if the Earth's temperature warmed by 15°F, ice would still remain in the valleys of the Gamburtsev subglacial mountains.

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