Antarctica’s Ice: Land, Not Air, Made the Difference | Science News

Antarctica’s ice age started way earlier than the Arctic’s — even when Earth was 5°C warmer — thanks to a hidden geological twist: rising landmasses fueled by deep-Earth mantle waves. These slow-moving forces lifted East Antarctica, including the Gamburtsev Mountains, to heights cold enough for snow to stick and build into ice. Computer simulations revealed how this topographic shift created the perfect conditions for ice to form before atmospheric cooling kicked in. Once ice began accumulating, it amplified its own chill by reflecting sunlight — proving that it wasn’t just climate change, but the very shape of the land, sculpted from below, that froze the southernmost continent first. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/d86c7d601a5989c8