Beneath Antarctica’s ice lies a vast continent of mountains, canyons, and volcanoes, preserved for millions of years.

Hidden beneath Antarctica’s icy expanse lies a vast continental landmass featuring mountains, canyons, and volcanoes, all preserved under ice for millions of years.

A collaborative effort by scientists from 19 global research institutions—including the University of California, Irvine; the National Science Foundation; the British Antarctic Survey; NASA; and the National Natural Science Foundation of China—has resulted in a highly accurate map of the Earth’s bedrock.

By examining radar surveys and satellite imagery from as far back as 1967, researchers developed BedMachine, a leading global map of Antarctica’s topography. This detailed map enables scientists to pinpoint regions of the continent that are likely to be most and least susceptible to future climate change impacts.

Antarctic mapping techniques depended on radar soundings. While these methods have been useful, they come with certain limitations. Radar sounding involves systems that emit signals to penetrate the ice, but this approach has its constraints.

When ice interfaces with solid ground, signals are reflected back. Scientists then employ specialized techniques to interpret the radar data. However, this method has shown limitations, particularly with rapidly advancing glaciers.

BedMachine employs advanced X-ray technology to peer through ice layers and utilizes mass conservation techniques to estimate the underlying features. By analyzing ice surface velocity and radar data on ice thickness, it creates a detailed and accurate map of the subglacial topography.

Recently, this methodology has proven effective in Greenland. While Antarctica’s vastness and isolation present significant challenges for implementing this technique, the effort is undoubtedly worthwhile.

The BedMachine project revealed astonishing findings. It uncovered the immense scale of the canyon beneath Denman Glacier. Additionally, it identified stabilizing ridges that protect the ice in the Transantarctic Mountains. Denman Glacier reaches approximately 11,500 feet below sea level, making it the deepest point on Earth.

Earlier maps indicated a shallower canyon, but this was inaccurate; crucial information was overlook. Using mass conservation principles and radar surveys, we determined the ice flow depth in the canyon. “According to our calculations, it reaches an astonishing 3,500 meters below sea level. This makes it the deepest point on land,” explained Mathieu Morlighem, Associate Professor at the University of California, Irvine.
Beneath Antarctica’s ice lies a vast continent of mountains
He added that the canyon was relatively narrow. Therefore, it had to be extremely deep for such a large ice mass to reach the coast.
Over 97% of Antarctica is blanketed in ice, but the continent also boasts an intriguing feature: its volcanoes. In West Antarctica, researchers have identified 138 distinct volcanoes, with several classified as active. This lesser-known aspect of Antarctica adds a fascinating dimension to its icy landscape.
Advancements in bed topography mapping are expect to enhance our understanding of Antarctica’s diverse land features with greater precision.

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