Greenland: Once lush tundra now buried under ice

Although today Greenland is almost entirely covered with ice, 98 percent of its surface, research indicates that a million years ago the island was completely ice-free. This was reported by the Live Science portal, which discusses the scientists' findings.

Opinions about Greenland's past appearance and when it began to be covered in ice have often changed. Researchers pointed out that the new discovery offers the first direct proof that the edges and the central area of Greenland's ice sheet experienced melting in the recent geological past.

Paul Bierman, the principal investigator, explained in an interview with Live Science that the new data confirms Greenland was once covered with a tundra ecosystem. To arrive at this conclusion, researchers conducted detailed studies of an ice core sample, uncovering various fossils such as willow, fungi, and insect remains. The most remarkable find, however, was a "perfectly preserved poppy seed."

Bierman admits that scientists did not expect to find such fossils. The entire team was amazed by their discoveries.

One of the remnants was briar moss, which occurs exclusively on sandy and rocky terrains. Halley Mastro explained to Live Science that all plants require such conditions to grow, and they cannot exist on top of the ice sheet.

Bierman emphasizes that the latest research reveals that the central part of Greenland, which was once disputed, was also ice-free in the past million years. Today's landscape is covered with an ice layer 2 miles thick. However, in the past, and as it turns out, earlier than previously thought, Greenland was home to a green tundra full of flowers and, most likely, even small trees.

The scientists also point out another important nuance that makes this discovery significant for contemporary humanity. Because Greenland was ice-free at lower carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in the atmosphere than today, this landscape might reoccur in the future. The disappearance of the ice sheet, however, would lead to a drastic rise in sea levels, and if it happens, it will most likely take decades or even hundreds of years.