Breaking News: Discovery of the Thickest Glacier on Qinghai-Xizang Plateau! 🌨️
Scientists have just identified the thickest glacier ever found on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, also known as Asia's water tower! 💧
An ice field with an astounding maximum thickness of nearly 400 meters was discovered as part of the Purog Kangri Glacier in Tsonyi County, located in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, according to researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
This incredible finding means the Purog Kangri Glacier now holds the title of the thickest glacier on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, overtaking the Guliya Ice Cap in Ngari Prefecture.
Why is this such a big deal? Glaciers are like Earth's time capsules, preserving vital information about our planet's climate history. 📖🌍 Previously, scientists extracted a 308.6-meter ice core from Guliya, which contained climate data spanning over 700,000 years!
Now, the team is busy drilling into the Purog Kangri Glacier, hoping to uncover ice cores that are even older. Imagine what secrets they might hold! 🔎
\"Currently, glaciers worldwide are retreating. Once they melt, the historical records encapsulated within them will also disappear,\" said Lonnie Thompson, a foreign academician of the CAS and a member of the American Academy of Sciences. \"Therefore, extracting and preserving ice cores is crucial for retrieving historical information.\"
This discovery not only pushes the boundaries of our knowledge but also highlights the importance of preserving these natural archives before they vanish. 🏔️❄️
Stay tuned for more updates on this icy adventure! ✨
Reference(s):
Scientists discover thickest glacier on Qinghai-Xizang Plateau
cgtn.com
