Antarctic Forests Reveal Ancient Trees

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CVX
Posts: 722
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2004 12:00 pm

Antarctic Forests Reveal Ancient Trees

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By Larry O'Hanlon

Discovery News



A quarter-billion years ago, forested islands flashed with autumnal hues near the South Pole ó a polar scene unlike any today, researchers say.



Geologists have discovered in Antarctica the remains of three ancient deciduous forests complete with fossils of fallen leafs scattered around the tree trunks. The clusters of petrified tree stumps were found upright in the original living positions they held during the Permian period.



Some stumps were even poking up through the snowfield in the Beardmore Glacier area, said geologist Molly Miller of Vanderbilt University.



"These were not scrubby little things," Miller said. "These were big trees."



Some are estimated to have attained heights of 80 feet (24.6 meters), based on their trunk diameter.



Read more: http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20 ... eaves.html
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Tombstone
Posts: 3686
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2004 12:00 pm

Antarctic Forests Reveal Ancient Trees

Post by Tombstone »

So, as global warming continues, we should start shopping for land on the poles?!



CVX wrote: By Larry O'Hanlon

Discovery News



A quarter-billion years ago, forested islands flashed with autumnal hues near the South Pole ó a polar scene unlike any today, researchers say.



Geologists have discovered in Antarctica the remains of three ancient deciduous forests complete with fossils of fallen leafs scattered around the tree trunks. The clusters of petrified tree stumps were found upright in the original living positions they held during the Permian period.



Some stumps were even poking up through the snowfield in the Beardmore Glacier area, said geologist Molly Miller of Vanderbilt University.



"These were not scrubby little things," Miller said. "These were big trees."



Some are estimated to have attained heights of 80 feet (24.6 meters), based on their trunk diameter.



Read more: http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20 ... eaves.html
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