A groundbreaking scientific map has revealed the hidden terrain beneath Antarctica’s massive ice sheet, uncovering mountains, valleys, and ancient river systems buried under kilometers of frozen ice. Researchers say the new map will significantly improve predictions of how melting Antarctic ice could raise global sea levels in the future.
The research, published in the journal Science, was led by glaciologist Helen Ockenden and a team from the University of Edinburgh along with several international institutions. Using advanced satellite data and new modeling techniques, scientists were able to map the bedrock beneath Antarctica with unprecedented accuracy.
Satellite data reveals a rugged world under the ice
Antarctica’s ice sheet averages about 1.2 miles (roughly two kilometers) thick and reaches depths of more than three miles in some areas. Beneath this vast frozen cover lies a surprisingly rugged landscape made up of mountain ranges, deep valleys, plains, and long-buried river channels.
Instead of drilling through the thick ice, researchers used a method called Ice Flow Perturbation Analysis. This technique studies how ice flowing over uneven terrain creates small distortions on the ice surface that can be detected by satellites.
By combining data from the Polar Geospatial Center’s Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica with ice-speed measurements from NASA’s MEaSUREs program, scientists reconstructed the shape of the hidden landscape across the entire continent.
The new map reveals thousands of previously unknown hills, valleys, and large river channels that may have formed before Antarctica became completely covered in ice millions of years ago.
The Antarctic Ice Sheet holds about 70 percent of the planet’s freshwater, making it one of the most important factors in global sea-level projections. If large portions of this ice melt, coastal regions around the world from Miami to Manila could face severe flooding.
Scientists say understanding the shape of the land beneath the ice is critical because it influences how glaciers move and how quickly they retreat as the climate warms.
Rough and mountainous terrain can slow the movement of ice, while smoother landscapes allow glaciers to slide more quickly toward the ocean. This difference can determine how rapidly ice loss contributes to rising sea levels.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has previously identified Antarctica as one of the largest uncertainties in future sea-level rise predictions. Researchers say the new map will help climate models simulate ice-sheet behavior more accurately.
Although scientists emphasize that the map is not a perfect representation of Antarctica’s bedrock, they describe it as a major step forward in understanding the continent’s hidden geography and its potential role in future climate change.