Title: Ancient River Landscape Discovered Beneath Antarctic Ice Reveals Insights into Long-Term Stability of Ice Sheet
Date: October 24, 2023
Scientists from Durham University in the UK have made a groundbreaking discovery in Antarctica, uncovering an ancient river-formed landscape beneath the vast ice sheet. This finding offers valuable insights into the long-term stability of the ice sheet and its reactions to climate shifts. The research team used satellite data and radio-echo sounding techniques to map a 32,000 km2 area of land beneath the ice.
The newly discovered landscape, which resembles the glacially-modified landscape of North Wales, UK, appears to have been formed by rivers at least 14 million years ago, possibly predating the initial growth of the East Antarctic ice around 34 million years ago. This suggests a remarkable long-term temperature stability in the area studied by the researchers.
Lead author Professor Stewart Jamieson, from Durham University, highlighted the significance of this discovery, stating, “The land underneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet is less well known than the surface of Mars. And that’s a problem because that landscape controls the way that ice in Antarctica flows, and it controls the way it might respond to past, present, and future climate change.”
The findings of this study, published in the journal Nature Communications, contribute to a better understanding of how the East Antarctic Ice Sheet has evolved throughout history and how it might respond to future climate change. The landscape’s existence was confirmed through satellite images, which captured small undulations on the ice sheet’s surface, providing clues about the sub-ice landscape. The shape of the land beneath the ice was then mapped using radio-echo sounding techniques from planes.
Co-author Professor Neil Ross from Newcastle University emphasized the significance of this discovery in shedding light on the early and long-term history of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet and its potential response to future climate change. He described the project as a “slow burn” that has now come to fruition in an exciting paper involving a great research team.
The research team believes that there are likely other undiscovered ancient landscapes hidden beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Moving forward, they plan to continue exploring the landscape and fill in gaps where surveys do not exist, using the obtained information to understand how the ice sheet and its underlying landscape have changed over time.
The survey data collection for this study was supported by UK Research and Innovation’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the US National Science Foundation (NSF), and NASA. This collaboration underscores the international effort to unravel the mysteries of Antarctica and its impact on global climate dynamics.
As scientists continue to unlock the secrets hidden beneath the Antarctic ice, the discoveries made pave the way for a deeper understanding of our planet’s past, present, and future climate.