Antarctica's hidden landscape revealed in greater detail

Researchers combined satellite measurements and models of ice flow to produce a new, higher-resolution map of Antarctica's bed, reporting tens of thousands of previously undiscovered hills and ridges and a long channel in the Maud Subglacial Basin.

Researchers have produced a new, more detailed map of the landscape beneath Antarctica's ice. The map was generated by combining satellite measurements of the ice surface with models of how glaciers move, and results were checked against existing radar survey tracks. The approach reveals many previously unknown hills and ridges and adds detail around buried mountain ranges. The study is published in the journal Science. Key findings: - The researchers report tens of thousands of previously undiscovered hills and ridges under Antarctica's ice and greater detail around known subglacial mountain ranges. - The method combined satellite-derived surface data with physics-based models of ice flow and was validated against radar survey lines that sample the bed directly. - A deep channel in the Maud Subglacial Basin was identified, averaging about 50 m deep, 6 km wide and running nearly 400 km in length. - Antarctica's ice sheet reaches about 4.8 km in thickness in places, and traditional airborne or ground radar surveys have left large gaps between survey tracks. - The new maps carry uncertainties because they depend on assumptions about ice flow and on limited direct measurements of bedrock and sediments. Summary: The maps provide a more complete picture of Antarctica's subglacial topography and are intended to help improve how models represent glacier movement and potential retreat. Researchers note that further ground, air and space surveys and integration with other data sources are expected to refine the maps and reduce current uncertainties.