Tuesday, April 28, 2026
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Ancient Antarctic Ice Reveals Wildfire Increases During Climate Shifts

By aimee yang
Ancient Antarctic Ice Reveals Wildfire Increases During Climate Shifts

Scientists found tiny bubbles in old ice from Antarctica. These bubbles showed that wildfires happened when the climate changed quickly.

Usually, we know that temperature changes, rain differences, and methane spikes are signs of climate change. But fires were not part of this story before.

Ben Riddell-Young, a lead scientist, said, “We were not looking for fire signals at first.” They wanted to understand why methane levels went up during climate changes in the past.

Their ice core samples go back 67,000 years and show air trapped in the ice. They used special machines to study this methane.

Each sample took four hours to analyze. They found a big change in the methane’s isotopes, which told them a lot.

When methane comes from living things, it shows a specific pattern. But if it comes from deep inside the Earth, it looks different.

The team found that when climate changed quickly, wildfires also increased. This was something we didn’t know before.

This study helps us understand how climate and fire are connected. It is important as wildfires become more common today.

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Vocabulary List:
6 words · tap to reveal
ON

Accent

Methane/ˈmɛθ.eɪn/noun
A colorless odorless gas that is a primary component of natural gas and a potent greenhouse gas.

Isotopes/ˈaɪ.sə.toʊps/noun
Variants of a particular chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Analyzed/ˈæn.ə.laɪzd/verb
Examined in detail in order to understand or explain something.

Climate/ˈklaɪmət/noun
The long-term average of weather patterns in a particular area.

Wildfires/ˈwaɪld.faɪərz/noun
Uncontrolled fires that occur in wildland areas often exacerbated by dry conditions and climate change.

Trapped/træpt/adjective
Caught in a tight or confined space; unable to escape.
Vocabulary Learning

How much do you know?

What did scientists find in old ice from Antarctica?
Tiny bubbles
Ancient artifacts
Fossilized remains
Microplastics
What signs of climate change were traditionally known before the discovery of wildfires in ice cores?
Temperature changes
Rain differences
Methane spikes
All of the above
What did the team initially want to understand when studying methane levels in ice cores?
Wildfire occurrences
Effect of temperature changes
Cause of methane spikes
Rainfall patterns
Which type of methane source has a specific pattern?
Living things
Deep Earth sources
Volcanic activity
Oceanic emissions
What did the team discover about the relationship between climate change and wildfires?
Wildfires decreased during climate change
Wildfires were unrelated to climate changes
Wildfires increased with rapid climate change
Wildfires were a constant regardless of climate
Why is the study on wildfires in ice cores important?
To understand ancient fire history
To predict future fire occurrences
To improve ice extraction techniques
To study ancient civilizations
Scientists were initially searching for fire signals in ice cores.
Methane always shows the same pattern regardless of its source.
The study shows that wildfires have no correlation with climate change.
The ice core samples used in the study date back 100,000 years.
Climate change can cause an increase in wildfires.
The study’s findings are irrelevant to modern times.
The ice core samples go back years.
Each sample took hours to analyze.
When methane comes from deep inside the Earth, it looks .
The team studied the isotopes of methane to understand its .
Understanding the connection between climate and fire is crucial as wildfires become today.
Ben Riddell-Young is a lead on the team.
This question is required
aimee yang
aimee yanghttps://esl-news.com

Test Your Understanding

Start Quiz
Vocabulary List:
6 words · tap to reveal
ON
Accent
Methane/ˈmɛθ.eɪn/noun
A colorless odorless gas that is a primary component of natural gas and a potent greenhouse gas.
Isotopes/ˈaɪ.sə.toʊps/noun
Variants of a particular chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
Analyzed/ˈæn.ə.laɪzd/verb
Examined in detail in order to understand or explain something.
Climate/ˈklaɪmət/noun
The long-term average of weather patterns in a particular area.
Wildfires/ˈwaɪld.faɪərz/noun
Uncontrolled fires that occur in wildland areas often exacerbated by dry conditions and climate change.
Trapped/træpt/adjective
Caught in a tight or confined space; unable to escape.
Vocabulary Learning

How much do you know?

What did scientists find in old ice from Antarctica?
Tiny bubbles
Ancient artifacts
Fossilized remains
Microplastics
What signs of climate change were traditionally known before the discovery of wildfires in ice cores?
Temperature changes
Rain differences
Methane spikes
All of the above
What did the team initially want to understand when studying methane levels in ice cores?
Wildfire occurrences
Effect of temperature changes
Cause of methane spikes
Rainfall patterns
Which type of methane source has a specific pattern?
Living things
Deep Earth sources
Volcanic activity
Oceanic emissions
What did the team discover about the relationship between climate change and wildfires?
Wildfires decreased during climate change
Wildfires were unrelated to climate changes
Wildfires increased with rapid climate change
Wildfires were a constant regardless of climate
Why is the study on wildfires in ice cores important?
To understand ancient fire history
To predict future fire occurrences
To improve ice extraction techniques
To study ancient civilizations
Scientists were initially searching for fire signals in ice cores.
Methane always shows the same pattern regardless of its source.
The study shows that wildfires have no correlation with climate change.
The ice core samples used in the study date back 100,000 years.
Climate change can cause an increase in wildfires.
The study’s findings are irrelevant to modern times.
The ice core samples go back years.
Each sample took hours to analyze.
When methane comes from deep inside the Earth, it looks .
The team studied the isotopes of methane to understand its .
Understanding the connection between climate and fire is crucial as wildfires become today.
Ben Riddell-Young is a lead on the team.
This question is required

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