Study Shows Antarctica Covered by Forests

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Scientists found that Antarctica was covered by rain forests some 50 million years ago after the analysis of materials taken from the bottom of the ocean in the area, NBC reported.

The scientists said that if the temperatures kept increasing around the world at the current speed, the traces of the plants left under the ice could rise up and Antarctica could become green again.

They added however that this would impact the climate change negatively.

Australian scientist Kevin Welsh who also took part in the research stated in his article published in Nature magazine that 52 million years ago the temperature in Antarctica was 20 degrees and that at the time, the land was covered with trees rather than big blocks of ice.

Welsh added that the carbon monoxide levels were rising in the area and that if they continued to rise in their current speed today, all the ice could melt by the end of the 21st century.

He also stated that Antarctica was acting as a cooler for planet earth by sending a great portion of sunrays back into space and warned governments around the world that if it melts there would be catastrophic results.

SourceNaharnet