New Detailed Map of Antarctica's Subglacial Terrain

Scientists have created the most detailed map to date of the terrain hidden beneath Antarctica's vast ice sheet. This new map, developed by glaciologists Robert Bingham of the University of Edinburgh and Helen Ockenden of the Institut des Geosciences de l'Environnement, reveals a complex landscape of mountains, canyons, valleys, and over 30,000 previously uncharted hills. The researchers used high-resolution satellite observations and ice-flow perturbation analysis to map the entire continent, including previously unexplored areas. This improved knowledge of the subglacial bedrock is crucial for more accurate forecasts of the climate-related retreat of Antarctica's ice sheet and its contribution to global sea-level rise. The study, published in the journal Science, highlights that rough terrain can slow ice retreat. The findings will inform models used to project future sea-level rise and the forecasts issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.