In a stunning discovery, UCL (University College London) researchers have found that Ireland and Scotland are hosting a rock formation which may be carrying the rare and complete record of "snowball Earth".&nbsp;

The research, which was published&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Journal of the Geological Society of London, discovered that the Port Askaig Formation is filled with layers of rock which are up to 1.1km thick and were probably deposited between 662 to 720 million years ago when the Sturtian glaciation occurred.&nbsp;

This was the first time the world had frozen and led to the development of complex and&nbsp;multicellular organisms.

In this rock formation, an exposed outcrop on Scottish islands, which was known as the Garvellachs, was unique because it shows how there was the transition of warm and tropical Earth into "snowball Earth".

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/esas-juice-mission-is-set-to-attempt-first-ever-lunar-earth-flyby-heres-how-it-will-impact-planet-749165">ESA's JUICE mission is set to attempt first-ever Lunar-Earth flyby. Here's how it will impact planet</a>

Some other rocks which were formed at a similar time in North America and Namibia have been missing this transition.

<h2>Here's how Earth sustained life in deep freeze</h2>

UCL Earth Sciences senior author Professor Graham Shields said, "These rocks record a time when Earth was covered in ice. All complex, multicellular life, such as animals, arose out of this deep freeze, with the first evidence in the&nbsp;fossil record&nbsp;appearing shortly after the planet thawed."

UCL Earth Sciences PhD candidate and first author Elias Rugen said, "Our study provides the first conclusive age constraints for these Scottish and Irish rocks, confirming their global significance."

Watch:&nbsp;Astronaut records Moon setting behind Earth amid auroras

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/astronaut-records-moon-setting-behind-earth-amid-auroras-750162/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"The layers of rock exposed on the Garvellachs are globally unique. Underneath the rocks laid down during the unimaginable cold of the Sturtian glaciation are 70 meters of older carbonate rocks formed in tropical waters. These layers record a tropical marine environment with flourishing cyanobacterial life that gradually became cooler, marking the end of a billion years or so of a temperate climate on Earth," he added.

"Most areas of the world are missing this remarkable transition because the ancient glaciers scraped and eroded away the rocks underneath, but in Scotland, by some miracle, the transition can be seen," Rugen said.

The Sturtian glaciation period lasted for 60 million years on Earth and was one of the two major freezing periods in the Cryogenian Period (between 635 and 720 million years ago).&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In a stunning discovery, UCL (University College London) researchers have found that Ireland and Scotland are hosting a rock formation which may be carrying the rare and complete record of "snowball Earth".

In a stunning discovery, UCL (University College London) researchers have found that Ireland and Scotland are hosting a rock formation which may be carrying the rare and complete record of "snowball Earth". The research, which was published in the Journal of the Geological Society of London, discovered that the Port Askaig Formation is filled with layers of rock which are up to 1.1km thick and were probably deposited between 662 to 720 million years ago when the Sturtian glaciation occurred. This was the first time the world had frozen and led to the development of complex and multicellular organisms. In this rock formation, an exposed outcrop on Scottish islands, which was known as the Garvellachs, was unique because it shows how there was the transition of warm and tropical Earth into "snowball Earth". Also Read: ESA's JUICE mission is set to attempt first-ever Lunar-Earth flyby. Here's how it will impact planet Some other rocks which were formed at a similar time in North America and Namibia have been missing this transition. Here's how Earth sustained life in deep freeze UCL Earth Sciences senior author Professor Graham Shields said, "These rocks record a time when Earth was covered in ice. All complex, multicellular life, such as animals, arose out of this deep freeze, with the first evidence in the fossil record appearing shortly after the planet thawed." UCL Earth Sciences PhD candidate and first author Elias Rugen said, "Our study provides the first conclusive age constraints for these Scottish and Irish rocks, confirming their global significance." Watch: Astronaut records Moon setting behind Earth amid auroras "The layers of rock exposed on the Garvellachs are globally unique. Underneath the rocks laid down during the unimaginable cold of the Sturtian glaciation are 70 meters of older carbonate rocks formed in tropical waters. These layers record a tropical marine environment with flourishing cyanobacterial life that gradually became cooler, marking the end of a billion years or so of a temperate climate on Earth," he added. "Most areas of the world are missing this remarkable transition because the ancient glaciers scraped and eroded away the rocks underneath, but in Scotland, by some miracle, the transition can be seen," Rugen said. The Sturtian glaciation period lasted for 60 million years on Earth and was one of the two major freezing periods in the Cryogenian Period (between 635 and 720 million years ago). (With inputs from agencies)

Ireland and Scotland STILL have rocks which carry rare evidence of 'snowball Earth'

Our Earth has witnessed several “Snowball” periods during its history. During these periods, the entire planet remained covered in ice for thousands and even millions of years. For long, scientists have debated over one question: What could have triggered the initiation of the snowball periods? Now, a study has claimed that the process might have been triggered by large asteroids that slammed into Earth.

The study, published in the journal Science Advances, has been prepared by scientists from Yale, the University of Chicago and the University of Vienna.

<h2>Previous theory</h2>

According to one theory, the ice age might have begun due to a massive decline in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. However, scientists still wanted to explore other possibilities.

Lead author of the study, Minmin Fu, the Richard Foster Flint Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences in Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, said in a statement: “We decided to explore an alternative possibility.”

“What if an extraterrestrial impact caused this climate change transition very abruptly?” Minmin added.

<h2>How the study was conducted?</h2>

The scientists used a climate model and aligned it with characteristics of the aftermath of an asteroid strike in four different periods of the past: Preindustrial (150 years ago), Last Glacial Maximum (21,000 years ago), Cretaceous (145 to 66 million years ago), and Neoproterozoic (1 billion to 542 million years ago).

Scientists concluded that while the asteroid strike was unlikely to trigger a snowball in two warmer periods (Cretaceous and preindustrial), it could have triggered one in the other two periods as the temperature in climate was already low.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwil3Jav0LeFAxX1hGMGHQx1C0IQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-perseverance-rover-spots-thousands-of-unusual-white-rocks-on-mars-707669" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-perseverance-rover-spots-thousands-of-unusual-white-rocks-on-mars-707669&amp;ved=2ahUKEwil3Jav0LeFAxX1hGMGHQx1C0IQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">NASA`s Perseverance rover spots thousands of `unusual` white rocks on Mars</a>

The temperature in the Glacial Maximum and Neoproterozoic periods was cold enough to set in motion an ice age.

“What surprised me most in our results is that, given sufficiently cold initial climate conditions, a ‘Snowball’ state after an asteroid impact can develop over the global ocean in a matter of just one decade,” said co-author Alexey Fedorov, a professor of ocean and atmospheric sciences in Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwil3Jav0LeFAxX1hGMGHQx1C0IQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/is-bird-flu-to-blame-for-thousands-of-dead-penguins-in-antarctica-scientists-rush-to-find-out-707953" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/science/is-bird-flu-to-blame-for-thousands-of-dead-penguins-in-antarctica-scientists-rush-to-find-out-707953&amp;ved=2ahUKEwil3Jav0LeFAxX1hGMGHQx1C0IQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE">Is bird flu to blame for thousands of dead penguins in Antarctica? Scientists rush to find out</a>

“By then the thickness of sea ice at the Equator would reach about 10 metres. This should be compared to a typical sea ice thickness of one to three metres in the modern Arctic.”

(With inputs from agencies)

Our Earth has witnessed several “Snowball” periods during its history. During these periods, the entire planet remained covered in ice for thousands and even millions of years.

Our Earth has witnessed several “Snowball” periods during its history. During these periods, the entire planet remained covered in ice for thousands and even millions of years. For long, scientists have debated over one question: What could have triggered the initiation of the snowball periods? Now, a study has claimed that the process might have been triggered by large asteroids that slammed into Earth. The study, published in the journal Science Advances, has been prepared by scientists from Yale, the University of Chicago and the University of Vienna. Previous theory According to one theory, the ice age might have begun due to a massive decline in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. However, scientists still wanted to explore other possibilities. Lead author of the study, Minmin Fu, the Richard Foster Flint Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences in Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, said in a statement: “We decided to explore an alternative possibility.” “What if an extraterrestrial impact caused this climate change transition very abruptly?” Minmin added. How the study was conducted? The scientists used a climate model and aligned it with characteristics of the aftermath of an asteroid strike in four different periods of the past: Preindustrial (150 years ago), Last Glacial Maximum (21,000 years ago), Cretaceous (145 to 66 million years ago), and Neoproterozoic (1 billion to 542 million years ago). Scientists concluded that while the asteroid strike was unlikely to trigger a snowball in two warmer periods (Cretaceous and preindustrial), it could have triggered one in the other two periods as the temperature in climate was already low. Also read: NASA`s Perseverance rover spots thousands of `unusual` white rocks on Mars The temperature in the Glacial Maximum and Neoproterozoic periods was cold enough to set in motion an ice age. “What surprised me most in our results is that, given sufficiently cold initial climate conditions, a ‘Snowball’ state after an asteroid impact can develop over the global ocean in a matter of just one decade,” said co-author Alexey Fedorov, a professor of ocean and atmospheric sciences in Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Also read: Is bird flu to blame for thousands of dead penguins in Antarctica? Scientists rush to find out “By then the thickness of sea ice at the Equator would reach about 10 metres. This should be compared to a typical sea ice thickness of one to three metres in the modern Arctic.” (With inputs from agencies)

Large asteroids that slammed into Earth could have triggered ice age: Study

Though it is beyond our normal perception of time, Earth took millions and millions of years to develop life. It went through hardships before becoming the globe-spanning phenomenon it is now. One such phase came during the Cryogenian period that lasted from 720 million to 635 million years ago. During this time, Earth was a frozen sphere which may have looked like a shimmering snowball from space. Frozen conditions create difficulties in the development of a thriving life but life found a way nonetheless.

A new study has thrown light on how life was able to survive in spite of difficult conditions.

This period is also called "Snowball Earth"

Scientists found fossilised seaweed that was unearthed in black shale in China's Hubei province. Based on their observations scientists think that habitable marine environments were more widespread on "Snowball Earth"&nbsp;than previously thought.

The findings support the idea that it was more of a "Slushball Earth" where the earliest forms of complex life - basic multicellular organisms - endured even at mid-latitudes previously thought to have been frozen solid.

The fossils date from the second of the two times during the Cryogenian Period when massive ice sheets stretched from the poles toward the equator. This interval, called the Marinoan Ice Age, lasted from about 651 million to 635 million years ago.

"The key finding of this study is that open-water - ice-free - conditions existed in mid-latitude oceanic regions during the waning stage of the Marinoan Ice Age," said China University of Geosciences geobiologist Huyue Song, lead author of the research published in the journal Nature Communications.

"Our study shows that, at least near the end of the Marinoan 'Snowball Earth' event, habitable areas extended to mid-latitude oceans, much larger than previously thought. Previous research argued that such habitable areas, at best, only existed in tropical oceans. More extensive areas of habitable oceans better explain where and how complex organisms such as multicellular seaweed survived," Song added.

The findings demonstrate that the world's oceans were not completely frozen and that habitable refuges existed where multicellular eukaryotic organisms - the domain of life including plants, animals, fungi and certain mostly single-celled organisms called protists - could survive, Song said.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Though it is beyond our normal perception of time, Earth took millions and millions of years to develop life. It went through hardships before becoming the globe-spanning phenomenon it is now.

Though it is beyond our normal perception of time, Earth took millions and millions of years to develop life. It went through hardships before becoming the globe-spanning phenomenon it is now. One such phase came during the Cryogenian period that lasted from 720 million to 635 million years ago. During this time, Earth was a frozen sphere which may have looked like a shimmering snowball from space. Frozen conditions create difficulties in the development of a thriving life but life found a way nonetheless. A new study has thrown light on how life was able to survive in spite of difficult conditions. This period is also called "Snowball Earth" Scientists found fossilised seaweed that was unearthed in black shale in China's Hubei province. Based on their observations scientists think that habitable marine environments were more widespread on "Snowball Earth" than previously thought. The findings support the idea that it was more of a "Slushball Earth" where the earliest forms of complex life - basic multicellular organisms - endured even at mid-latitudes previously thought to have been frozen solid. The fossils date from the second of the two times during the Cryogenian Period when massive ice sheets stretched from the poles toward the equator. This interval, called the Marinoan Ice Age, lasted from about 651 million to 635 million years ago. "The key finding of this study is that open-water - ice-free - conditions existed in mid-latitude oceanic regions during the waning stage of the Marinoan Ice Age," said China University of Geosciences geobiologist Huyue Song, lead author of the research published in the journal Nature Communications. "Our study shows that, at least near the end of the Marinoan 'Snowball Earth' event, habitable areas extended to mid-latitude oceans, much larger than previously thought. Previous research argued that such habitable areas, at best, only existed in tropical oceans. More extensive areas of habitable oceans better explain where and how complex organisms such as multicellular seaweed survived," Song added. The findings demonstrate that the world's oceans were not completely frozen and that habitable refuges existed where multicellular eukaryotic organisms - the domain of life including plants, animals, fungi and certain mostly single-celled organisms called protists - could survive, Song said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Life survived on 'snowball Earth,' scientists tell why

snowball-earth

Snowball Earth, News on Snowball Earth, stories on Snowball Earth, articles on Snowball Earth, Snowball Earth stories at Wion, Snowball Earth news, Snowball Earth latest news

snowball earth

Ireland and Scotland STILL have rocks which carry rare evidence of 'snowball Earth'

Large asteroids that slammed into Earth could have triggered ice age: Study

Life survived on 'snowball Earth,' scientists tell why