The disappearance of Antarctica’s meteorites is a serious concern for scientists, as these space rocks contain invaluable information about the development of our solar system. With global warming posing a threat to the continent’s ice sheet, researchers predict that nearly three-quarters of Antarctica’s meteorites could vanish by the end of the century. This makes it increasingly difficult to locate and retrieve these valuable specimens.
The research, published in Nature Climate Change, used a machine-learning algorithm to forecast how Antarctic meteorites will be affected by simulated climate conditions. These meteorites accumulated in stranding zones on the continent thousands of years ago and are now embedded in the ice. They are commonly found in “blue ice” areas, where wind uncovers older ice that appears blue against the white landscape.
Meteorites are highly sensitive to temperature and exposure to sunlight can cause their dark surface to warm up, melting the ice beneath them and causing them to sink below the surface. Under all emissions scenarios, at least 5,000 meteorites will disappear annually. With every tenth of a degree increase in temperature, the loss of meteorites could range from 5,100 to 12,200. In a high-emissions scenario, 76 percent of the areas currently covered by meteorites could be lost.
The potential loss of these valuable specimens would be devastating for space scientists who rely on them for insights into stars, planetary formation, and even Earth’s geological history. Researchers emphasize the importance of collecting as many meteorite specimens as possible before they become inaccessible due to rising temperatures caused by climate change. Glaciologist Harry Zekollari stresses the urgency of accelerating efforts to recover Antarctic meteorites before they disappear forever. He compares it with losing data from melting glaciers – once gone forever; some secrets from space may never be recovered again
