Scientists have found new evidence that the Renland Ice Cap in eastern Greenland has grown and shrank repeatedly over the past 12,000 years, at times becoming smaller than its current state.
In a paper first-authored by Aaron K. Medford of the University of Maine, the team detailed its radiocarbon dating of plant remains uncovered as the ice cap has recently retreated. Their results suggest that moss and willow shrubs grew near the present boundary of the glacier during two very recent periods—the first being roughly 1000 years ago, and the second being roughly 500 years ago.
