新理論解釋古代南極冰川作用
New Theory Explains Ancient Antarctic Glaciation
Updated at: August 26, 2026 at 02:45 AM
數十年來，科學家一直認為二氧化碳濃度下降是 3400 萬年前東南極冰原形成的主要原因。
For decades, scientists believed that dropping carbon dioxide levels were the only cause of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet forming 34 million years ago.
然而，2026 年 7 月發表在《科學》期刊上一項開創性的研究提供了新的視角：地質「預處理」。
However, a groundbreaking study published in Science in July 2026 offers a new perspective: geological 'preconditioning.'
在托馬斯·格農教授的帶領下，研究人員發現地球內部的動力機制起到了關鍵作用。
Led by Professor Thomas Gernon, researchers found that internal Earth dynamics played a crucial role.
在侏羅紀時期，大陸分裂引發了移動緩慢的「地函波」，並在南極洲下方傳播。
During the Jurassic Period, the breakup of continents triggered slow-moving 'mantle waves' that traveled beneath Antarctica.
這些波帶走了地殼中的物質，導致大陸顯著隆起。
These waves stripped material from the crust, causing the continent to rise significantly.
即使在全球氣候相對溫暖的時候，這些山峰也達到了「臨界高度」，使積雪能夠終年不化。
Even while the global climate remained relatively warm, these peaks reached a 'critical elevation' where snow could persist year-round.
一旦冰川形成，它們便觸發了冷卻的反饋迴圈，即「反照率效應」——冰層將陽光反射出去，進一步降低了氣溫。
Once glaciers formed, they triggered a cooling feedback loop—the albedo effect, where ice reflects sunlight, further lowered temperatures.
這一過程解釋了為什麼南極洲早在北極之前就發生了冰川作用。
This process explains why Antarctica glaciated long before the Arctic.
最終，該理論證明地球內部的運作過程對氣候歷史的重要性與大氣化學不相上下，表明地質作用確實可以為重大的環境變化鋪路。
Ultimately, this theory proves that Earth's interior processes are just as vital to climate history as atmospheric chemistry, showing that geology can literally set the stage for major environmental changes.
