Greenland site was ice-free 416,000 years ago, study finds
Researchers found that summers at the former Camp Century military base were 4.7°C warmer than modern conditions.
A study of sediment from the former Camp Century military base in northwestern Greenland shows the area was ice-free approximately 416,000 years ago, according to the Times of India.
The site, which was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1959 and abandoned in 1967, is currently buried under 1,387 metres of ice.
By examining a 3.44-metre sediment core, researchers identified biological markers that suggest summer temperatures during Marine Isotope Stage 11 were 4.7°C warmer than today.
The presence of plant and aquatic biomarkers indicates the landscape once contained lakes, streams, and tundra rather than ice.
The research, published in Climate of the Past, notes that summer atmospheric water vapour was also different, suggesting more moisture came from local sources like vegetation.
Scientists stated that the findings suggest prolonged periods of moderate warmth can lead to significant ice-sheet retreat, highlighting the importance of managing the length and intensity of future summer warming.