Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology => Topic started by: annie123 on 14/07/2010 01:31:15
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since the climate of the antarctic land mass was once tropical, and dinosaur fossils have been found below the ice, is it possible that a fossil of a species of apelike man could be discovered there one day? Or even bones?Is anyone looking for something like that?
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since the climate of the antarctic land mass was once tropical, and dinosaur fossils have been found below the ice, is it possible that a fossil of a species of apelike man could be discovered there one day? Or even bones?Is anyone looking for something like that?
It would be extremely difficult to do that. The ice sheet covering Antartica is incredibly thick.
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I heard on a podcast that fossilized remains had been found on Antarctica and they confirmed drift from tropical climate - I thought it was on NS, obviously not. All I can remember at present was that it was scott and to do with a woman famous for something else as well.
will get a moment of silence in office soon and cogitate. reverting
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First bit of recall.
Geezer - surely not insignificant parts of antarctica are bare and super-dry - the dry valleys (http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/news/2006/story11-13-06.php)
I don't know if this climate would be at all suitable for fossils.
Matthew
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Recall going well - podcast was BBC's In Our Time on Antarctica - here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ss2th#synopsis). After my last attempt to post BBC iplayer - will have to say that I am not sure anyone outside UK will be able to listen to it.
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OK final bit of information. The fossils were glossopteris (sort of plant) that was found in fossil from all over the other southern continents and R F Scott found them on antarctica as well.
And the woman who asked rfs to look for them was Marie Stopes - yes, the Marie Stopes; she was a geologist by training.
Re Homo something fossils - would have to compare times of split up of Gonwandaland and Homo evolution. Gondwana separated from Africa in early Cretaceous and from OZ and NZ in late Cretaceous. This is before the rise of the mammals, let alone the primates. So I think your only gonna find dinosaur or v small mammals.
Sorry about four consecutive posts - bad form.
Matthew
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First bit of recall.
Geezer - surely not insignificant parts of antarctica are bare and super-dry - the dry valleys (http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/news/2006/story11-13-06.php)
I don't know if this climate would be at all suitable for fossils.
Matthew
That's true. Something might show up in those locations. You could probably forget about these bits though http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090224133156.htm
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4000 metres of ice and a mountain range underneath - beggers belief doesn't it.
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Thanks for all the replies. And yes, I heard that dinosaur bones had been found on the In Our Time programme about the history of the Antarctic, a programme from UK - GREAT - You can get it by going to BBC podcasts - Radio 4 and download it. I do onto my basic MP3. Programmes are about 45min -an hour and are on all kinds of topics. Shouldn't be missed.I may try and contact the scientist who was on the programme but it was a while ago.