Did you know that Antarctica’s ancient ice sheets played a crucial role in shaping the Indian monsoon?
The discovery, based on 34-million-year-old fossil leaves from Nagaland, reveals a direct link between the formation of ice in the South Pole and the establishment of a warm and wet climate in the Indian subcontinent.
The study:
A study led by researchers from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences and the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology has established this connection.
Using the Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program (CLAMP), scientists analyzed fossil leaves from the Laisong Formation in Nagaland. Their findings revealed that the region once experienced much wetter and warmer conditions than it does today. This research, published in Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, determined that the timing of these conditions coincided with the first formation of massive ice sheets in Antarctica.
The Antarctic connection:
The growth of Antarctic ice reshaped global wind and rainfall patterns.
The study found that this glaciation caused the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)—a major global rain belt—to shift from the South Pole toward the tropics. This shift brought intense monsoonal rains to Northeast India, allowing lush forests to flourish.
A warning for the future:
This discovery is more than just a tale of Earth’s deep past; it carries a warning for the future.
The study highlights that our planet’s climate is a global web. As modern climate change accelerates Antarctic ice melt, the ITCZ may shift again, disrupting rainfall across the tropics. For India and its neighbors, this could mean profound changes in the monsoon, which is a lifeline for millions of people.
By understanding how our planet responded to dramatic shifts millions of years ago, we can better prepare for the challenges of a warming future.
