Unveiling an Ice-Free Ocean: Plankton's Testimony

Analysis of microfossil content in sediment cores suggests that the Arctic Ocean was seasonally ice-free during the Last Interglacial period, between 129,000 and 115,000 years ago. Researchers found evidence of a subpolar species expanding far into the Arctic Ocean, indicating the absence of summer sea ice. This finding is concerning as it suggests that even a small increase in global temperatures, comparable to the targets of the Paris Agreement, could lead to a significant rise in sea levels. Further research is needed to understand the conditions of the Last Interglacial and its implications for the current climate crisis.