Did you know that Antarctica is much more than just a massive ice sheet floating in the ocean, unlike the Arctic? Beneath its icy exterior lies a solid landmass filled with towering mountains, rugged terrain, and even volcanic activity that can spew gold! Thanks to an innovative map known as Bedmap3, crafted by an international team of scientists spearheaded by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), we are now able to explore this hidden landscape under Antarctica’s frost-covered surface in extraordinary detail.
Bedmap3 was constructed using an impressive compilation of over 60 years’ worth of survey data gathered from a variety of sources, including satellites, aircraft, ships, and even sleds pulled by dogs. The team employed numerous advanced imaging techniques, such as radar, seismic reflection, and gravity measurements, to chart the bedrock concealed beneath the immense ice sheet, which averages a staggering thickness of 2,148 meters. This groundbreaking map encompasses more than 82 million data points, organized on a 500-meter grid, making it the most detailed depiction of Antarctica’s underlying rock ever produced.
A standout feature of Bedmap3 is its enhanced clarity in illustrating Antarctica’s geographical elements, including profound valleys, rugged mountains, and regions where the ice shelves hover over the ocean below. Recent technological advancements and exploratory missions, particularly in the Eastern sector of Antarctica, have significantly improved the map’s accuracy. East Antarctica, being the largest and least studied area of the continent, presents considerable challenges for researchers due to its extreme isolation and severe weather conditions.
This map is pivotal for gaining insights into the historical and future changes of the Antarctic ice sheets, especially as we confront the realities of climate change. According to the data that informed Bedmap3, if all of Antarctica’s ice were to melt, global sea levels could potentially rise by about 58 meters. Such critical information is vital for computer models that forecast how the ice will behave as global temperatures continue to increase.
Dr. Hamish Pritchard, a glaciologist at BAS and the lead author of the study documenting the new map, illustrated the concept by saying, “Think of pouring syrup over a rock cake – all the lumps and bumps dictate where the syrup flows and how quickly. Similarly, in Antarctica, certain ridges will impede the movement of ice, while the valleys and smoother areas may allow it to accelerate.” Peter Fretwell, a mapping expert at BAS, emphasized, “What Bedmap3 reveals is that Antarctica is slightly more at risk than we previously understood.”
The findings from this map have been published in the prestigious journal Nature, providing valuable insights into the concealed world that lies beneath Antarctica’s icy façade and the potential ramifications of climate change on this vast, enigmatic continent.
