The landscape beneath Antarctica's icy surface revealed in unprecedented detail

A new, highly detailed map reveals the landscape beneath Antarctica's ice sheet, offering unprecedented insights into the continent's hidden features. Researchers from the University of Grenoble-Alpes and the University of Edinburgh utilized satellite data and the physics of glacial movement to create the map, uncovering thousands of previously unknown hills and ridges. This improved understanding of Antarctica's subglacial topography is expected to enhance predictions of how the continent will respond to climate change and contribute to sea-level rise. The map provides a more complete picture than previous methods, which relied on sparse radar measurements. Scientists believe this detailed view of Antarctica's "underbelly" will significantly advance glaciological research.

Explore how the topics in this article connect to other news stories