Glacier Ice: A Museum of Ancient Microbes
Zhi-Ping Zhong, Virginia I. Rich, Ellen Mosley-Thompson, and Lonnie G. Thompson
Grandfather: we heard today that there are microbes in glaciers. They must be even older than you!
Glaciers, found in high mountains and polar regions, cover 11% of the land and store 70% of the world’s freshwater. Formed from snow that doesn't melt each year, they serve as archives of ancient climates and microbes, offering insights into Earth's past and potential biotechnological innovations. These microbes could also help us understand life on other frozen worlds.
However, rapid glacier melting is releasing preserved water, microbes, and viruses, potentially including ancient pathogens. This causes flooding, sea-level rise, and disrupts water supplies for billions. It also exposes soil that can harm ecosystems and accelerate climate change. Studying glaciers is crucial to understanding our past, and taking urgent action to combat climate change is essential to slow their melting and preserve these natural archives.