An unknown and hidden world lies deep beneath the frozen continent, where a new topographical map has revealed mountains, valleys and canyons that until now were just hypotheses. Beneath a layer of ice up to 4 km thick, this new reconstruction – created with the help of artificial intelligence – is illuminating what was once just a big white blob in our scientific models.

Until now, paradoxically, we knew more about the surface of Mars than the relief that lies beneath the Antarctic glaciers, but thanks to an international team of scientists led by Helen Ockenden and Robert Bingham, the landscape is now appearing at an unprecedented resolution.

The study published in the journal Science reconstructs the morphology of the subsurface using satellite data combined with an analysis of ice movement and deformation. For the first time, scientists are not relying solely on traditional radars that see only certain points, but are observing how the entire mass of ice flows on the surface to deduce the rock formations beneath it – a process similar to studying the course of a river to understand the rocks at its bottom.

This method has revealed thousands of previously unseen hills and ridges, ranging in width from 2 to 30 km. Among the most impressive discoveries is a giant subglacial channel, some 400 km long and 6 km wide, that runs through the Maud Basin.

These formations are not just geographical curiosities, but are of vital importance to climate science, as the shape of the land beneath the ice determines how quickly glaciers can slide towards the sea as a result of global warming. Ridges can act as natural brakes, while deep valleys can accelerate the loss of ice mass.

A more accurate understanding of this “rock belly” means more reliable models for predicting sea level rise in the coming centuries. Although this map is based on mathematical models and carries uncertainty, it represents the most detailed picture ever taken of the “natural” Antarctica, providing a solid foundation for future research into the survival of our oceanic ecosystems./tesheshi/

Source: prizrenpost