Fossil discovery hints at ancient Greenland vegetation
Plant fossils found frozen beneath 1 mile of Greenland ice
Discovery suggests warmer climate in the region's past
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Scientists have found frozen plant fossils preserved under a mile of ice on Greenland, a discovery that suggests the region may have once had a much warmer climate than it does today.
The fossils, which include leaves, stems, and roots, were found during a drilling expedition to the Greenland ice sheet. The team of scientists, led by University of Copenhagen researcher Dorthe Dahl-Jensen, used a hot water drill to melt a hole through the ice, allowing them to collect samples of the underlying sediment.
The fossils were found in layers of sediment that were deposited about 1 million years ago, during a period when Greenland was much warmer than it is today. The team also found evidence of a diverse array of plant life, including trees, shrubs, and grasses.
"This discovery is a reminder that Greenland was once a very different place," Dahl-Jensen said. "It's exciting to think that this region may have once been home to a thriving ecosystem."
The discovery of the plant fossils could help scientists better understand the past climate of Greenland and the role that it has played in global climate change.
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