The rapid disappearance of meteorite fragments in Antarctica due to global warming is threatening the valuable research materials that contain important information about the solar system, the Earth’s history, and the formation of the Moon. These fragments provide scientists with invaluable insights into the solar system’s history and the emergence of life on Earth.
Recent research by a group of scientists from various institutions has revealed that these meteorite fragments are melting at an alarming rate, with about 5,000 fragments disappearing each year in Antarctica. This is five times faster than the rate at which they are collected. Using artificial intelligence and climate model predictions, the researchers predict that by 2050, a quarter of all meteorites will be lost, and this number could increase to three-quarters by the end of the century.
The warm meteorites on the icy surface of Antarctica heat up in the Sun, causing localized melting of the ice beneath them. As temperatures rise due to global warming, this process accelerates, causing the meteorite fragments to sink deeper into the ice and eventually disappear. The scientists emphasize
