The Antarctic, known today as the coldest and most remote continent on Earth, was once a vibrant landscape. Approximately 100 million years ago, during the Cretaceous period, Antarctica was part of the supercontinent Gondwana, characterized by temperate and tropical forests.
Fossilized leaves and petrified trunks indicate that conifer and giant fern forests thrived in this region, which was home to diverse species, including dinosaurs and marine reptiles.
The decline of this green paradise began around 50 million years ago during the Eocene epoch, when Gondwana fragmented, isolating Antarctica at the South Pole. The opening of the Drake Passage facilitated oceanic currents that thermally isolated the continent, accelerating its cooling.
By 34 million years ago, during the Oligocene epoch, permanent ice sheets began to form, marking the end of lush ecosystems and transforming Antarctica into the icy desert known today.
Paleontological discoveries, including fossils of the carnivorous dinosaur Cryolophosaurus, provide insights into the continent's past climates. Fossilized plants indicate the existence of Antarctic beech and pine forests, crucial for understanding evolutionary adaptations to climate changes.
Studying prehistoric Antarctica offers valuable lessons about climate change. The transition from a green continent to an icy expanse illustrates how greenhouse gas concentrations and ocean circulation can drastically alter Earth's climate.
As global warming accelerates the melting of Antarctica, understanding these processes serves as a warning for future climate impacts.