RSS FeedWhat causes initial glaciation of polar landmasses? Are such conditions primarily dependent upon oceanic gateways and circumpolar currents controlled by the distribution of continental crust? Or, are they caused by decreases in atmospheric CO2? Alternatively, what roles do volcanism and meteoroid impacts have upon instigation of long-term polar glaciations?
The answers to these questions are fundamental to understanding environmental change in polar regions, which can also have dramatic effects on climates and environments globally, especially in transition to or from glacial periods, as Earth is now.
This webpage describes the research that our international team of geoscientists is conducting associated with our International Polar Year (IPY) project: Testing the Polar Gateway Hypothesis: An Integrated Record of Drake Passage Opening & Antarctic Glaciation, primarily funded by the Antarctic Earth Sciences Program of the United States’ National Science Foundation’s Office of Polar Programs. This project is a part of the IPY Plates & Gates scientific initiative.
Whereas this webpage is written to be accessible to an intermediate audience with some scientific knowledge, we hope that students, teachers, scientists and citizens of all experience levels will explore alongside us. We are creating a glossary to assist readers with unfamiliar terminology and to provide suggestions for further learning. These efforts will grow as our nascent project progresses.
If time, location and resources permit, we would be happy to assist however possible in our readers’ learning. Please contact us at scotiaplatesgates (at) gmail.com with questions, inquiries or requests.Visit this group
