Hidden Antarctic Landscape with Ancient Rivers Revealed by Tracing Radio Waves in New Study

In a recent study, researchers used radio waves to map the Antarctic landscape, including its ancient rivers that have lain dormant and hidden under ice for millions of years.

Hidden Antarctic Landscape and Ancient Rivers

On Tuesday, scientists unveiled a colossal hidden terrain, shaped by ancient rivers and preserved beneath the Antarctic ice for eons. This immense expanse, larger than Belgium, has endured over 34 million years in pristine isolation. However, the looming threat of human-induced global warming threatens to unveil its secrets, caution British and American researchers.

Stewart Jamieson, a glaciologist from Durham University, spearheading the research, underscored this as an uncharted realm, one that remains unseen by human eyes. Notably, the researchers did not rely on new data but employed a new methodology, revealing an astonishing reality hiding in plain sight.

Jamieson remarked that the subglacial East Antarctic landscape is less explored than Mars' surface, adding an exciting dimension to our understanding of Earth's enigmatic history.

Tracing Radio Waves

To explore beneath Antarctica's vast expanse, researchers utilize radio-echo sounding, sending radio waves from planes overhead to scrutinize echoes. Yet, due to its colossal size, spanning more extensive than Europe, this method poses a monumental challenge. Instead, scientists turned to satellite imagery, mapping valleys and ridges hidden nearly 2 miles beneath the ice. The undulating ice surface forms a "ghost image" veiling these rugged features.

When integrated with radio-echo-sounding data, a vivid picture emerges of a terrain sculpted by ancient rivers, featuring plunging valleys and sharp peaks akin to Earth's current landscapes. Stewart Jamieson likened it to gazing from an airplane window at a mountainous region below, resembling Wales' Snowdonia area. This 12,000-square-mile region once teemed with trees, forests, and likely animals.

Frozen for 14 Million Years

According to Jamieson, the ice froze this landscape "in time." Pinpointing when sunlight last graced this hidden realm remains challenging, but scientists estimate it's been at least 14 million years. Jamieson's "hunch" suggests it might have been exposed over 34 million years ago when Antarctica initially froze. Notably, the team previously identified a city-sized subglacial lake, sparking hopes of uncovering more ancient landscapes below.

Global Warming

The study's authors raise concerns about the newfound landscape's vulnerability to global warming. They note that current trends could recreate atmospheric conditions resembling those from 14 to 34 million years ago when temperatures were 3 to 7 degrees Celsius warmer than today. Stewart Jamieson highlights the landscape's considerable inland distance from the ice's edge, making any potential exposure a distant prospect.

Notably, the fact that previous warming periods, like the Pliocene 3 to 4.5 million years ago, didn't reveal this landscape offers some optimism. However, the critical threshold for a "runaway reaction" of melting remains uncertain.

This study's release coincided with warnings about the accelerating melt of the nearby West Antarctic Ice Sheet, even if global warming mitigation goals are achieved. It underscores the urgency of addressing climate change to protect Antarctica's hidden wonders and mitigate its broader environmental impacts.