Map reveals what's beneath Antarctica's enormous ice sheet

Researchers combined Ice Flow Perturbation Analysis with satellite data to produce the most detailed continental map yet of Antarctica's bed, revealing thousands of subglacial hills, valleys, mountain ranges and deep canyons.

A new continental-scale map shows the landscape hidden beneath Antarctica's ice sheet by combining a mapping method called Ice Flow Perturbation Analysis (IFPA) with recent satellite observations. The Antarctic ice sheet covers almost 14 million km² and much of its bedrock has been difficult to observe through miles of ice. The map reveals thousands of previously uncharted subglacial hills, valleys, mountain ranges, plateaus and deep canyons. Researchers note that knowing the buried topography helps explain how ice flows across the continent. Key findings: - The team used Ice Flow Perturbation Analysis (IFPA) together with satellite data to infer bed topography across the whole continent. - The map identifies thousands of subglacial hills and valleys, extensive mountain ranges, plateaus and deep canyons that were not fully charted before. - Previous research indicates that rougher subglacial terrain can increase friction and slow ice retreat, while smoother areas offer less resistance. - The study was led by researchers at the University of Edinburgh and the results were published in the journal Science. Summary: The map provides a more complete view of Antarctica's buried topography and will guide where future scientific surveys should focus. Researchers say the new data can be incorporated into ice-sheet models to improve projections of ice behaviour and potential contributions to long-term sea-level change. Further work will integrate these maps with targeted observations and modelling efforts to refine understanding.