Scientists Uncover Wales-Sized River Landscape Beneath 2 Kilometers of Antarctic Ice
Updated
Updated · en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br · May 27
Scientists Uncover Wales-Sized River Landscape Beneath 2 Kilometers of Antarctic Ice
1 articles · Updated · en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br · May 27
Summary
Nearly 2 kilometers beneath East Antarctica, researchers mapped a river-carved landscape about 300 kilometers across—roughly the size of Wales—preserved for at least 14 million years.
Ice-penetrating radar and satellite data showed three plateau blocks split by deep valleys, with the terrain surviving because erosive warm-based ice apparently never developed there.
The buried region lies near the Denman and Totten glaciers, where underlying valleys and flatter surfaces can strongly shape how quickly ice is funneled toward the ocean.
That makes the find more than a geological relic: scientists say better maps of subglacial topography could sharpen projections of Antarctic ice loss and future sea-level rise.
The study, led by Durham University and published in Nature Communications in 2023, has regained attention as warming-focused research highlights the area's vulnerability.
Antarctica's ancient secrets are now revealed. Do they prove a catastrophic collapse is already underway?
Frozen for 14 million years, could this hidden landscape now unleash a faster-than-expected global flood?
Highland A Unveiled: Mapping a 32,000 km² Ancient River System Beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet and Its Impact on Sea Level Rise
Overview
In early 2026, scientists made a groundbreaking discovery by unveiling Highland A, a vast and ancient river landscape hidden beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. This was achieved using advanced remote sensing technologies, including satellite remote sensing to analyze ice surface morphology and Radio-Echo Sounding (RES) to image the ice-bed interface. These methods provided crucial clues and enabled detailed mapping of the subglacial terrain from space, marking a major advancement in glaciological research. The discovery of Highland A offers new insights into Antarctica’s geological past and helps predict how the ice sheet may respond to future climate change.