Ancient Iceberg Tracks Discovered in North Sea Reveal UK's Glacial Past

A new study has revealed evidence of massive icebergs drifting off the UK coastline during the last ice age. Scientists discovered plough-marks carved by these icebergs on the floor of the North Sea. This discovery provides insights into the behavior of ice sheets and shelves. The research, published in *Nature Communications*, details grooves found in the Witch Ground Basin. These grooves, hundreds of meters wide, were made by icebergs 18,000 to 20,000 years ago. The size of the grooves suggests the icebergs were comparable to cities like Cambridge or Norwich. The presence of these massive, flat-topped icebergs indicates that the British and Irish Ice Sheet had ice shelves. These shelves are crucial for ice sheet stability, holding back glacial ice. The study of these ancient plough-marks could offer insights into how ice shelves influence the modern Antarctic Ice Sheet and its potential for mass loss.