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By Maria Azzurra Volpe
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A newly drawn map of Earth's southernmost continent has revealed the whole of Antarctica’s subglacial world in unprecedented detail, providing fresh data that could help scientists further understand and tackle climate change.
Despite covering a land double the size of Australia, little is known about what lies underneath the thick layer of ice that covers Antarctica. In fact, scientists know more about the surface of Mars—some 140 million miles away—than that of Antarctica.
Holding around 70 percent of the Earth's freshwater, the Antarctic Ice Sheet is the largest ice mass on the planet. Its thickness varies—averaging around two kilometres and reaching over five kilometres thick at its deepest.
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But what lies beneath this icy mantle?
While observations have been challenging due to its extensive glacial cover, a team of international researchers led from the University of Edinburgh have produced the most detailed map to date of Antarctica’s concealed landscapes.
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The team used a mapping technique known as Ice Flow Perturbation Analysis (IFPA), which uses the physics of ice flow to infer the topography beneath the ice, identifying characteristic surface patterns created as ice moves over hills and valleys. They then combined IFPA data with the latest satellite observations to reveal the landscape across the whole continent.
“This method to project ice surface information from satellites down to the base of the ice provides a completely new way to see through ice sheets," said paper author and geoscientist Professor Andrew Curtis in a statement.
“Over several years we have proven that it works well in detailed tests and this application across all of Antarctica demonstrates its power.”
The team's work has uncovered specific geographical details across previously uncharted regions—including large mountain ranges, deep canyons and wide valleys—as well as tens of thousands of previously undiscovered hills and valleys.
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“Because making scientific observations through ice is difficult, we know less about the landscape hidden beneath Antarctica than we do about the surface of Mars or Venus," said paper author Helen Ockenden—now based at 'Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Grenoble—in a statement.
“So it’s really exciting that this new method allows us to use satellite measurements of the ice surface to fill all of the gaps in our maps, revealing new details about mountain ranges, canyons and geological boundaries.”
Previous research has shown that rough areas of subglacial land—such as jagged hillsides and sharp mountain ridges—can slow the retreat of Antarctica’s glacial sheet by providing frictional resistance against the ice flowing towards the sea.
This new map acts as a key guide for scientists, indicating where upcoming surveys should be focused and supporting the development of more accurate predictions about where sea levels may rise and by how much in the future.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about Antarctica? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
Reference
Ockenden, H., Bingham, R. G., Goldberg, D., Curtis, A., & Morlighem, M. (2026). Complex mesoscale landscapes beneath Antarctica mapped from space. Science, 391(6782), 314–319. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ady2532
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