By Cat DiStasio / Source: Inhabitat

A research team on the coast of West Antarctica has uncovered evidence that could indicate the effects of climate change deep beneath one of most isolated parts of the ocean. Earlier this month, a team of 40 scientists, ice drillers, and technicians celebrated the accomplishment of breaking through a 2,400 foot-thick ice sheet with a video probe that revealed pebbles on the sea floor, which normally wouldn’t be found at that depth.

What is so strange about pebbles under the ice sheet? At this depth, scientists at the Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling Project expected to find fine, silty debris like sand or dust, since it could be carried there by winds or current. Pebbles, though, would most definitely have been dropped from the moving ice above, and only if the ice were melting enough to release the pebbles from their frozen grip. That’s why scientists fear this finding may indicate climate change is happening deep below the ice.

Read more @ Inhabitat