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Researchers discover ancient river systems in Antarctica

A new study uncovers prehistoric river landscapes under East Antarctica's ice, impacting sea level predictions.

July 16, 2025 at 06:00 PM

Antarctica’s Vast River Networks Revealed Under Thick Ice

Researchers found ancient river systems under East Antarctica's ice, offering new insights into sea level rise.

Antarctica reveals its prehistoric river networks beneath ice

A team from Durham University has discovered vast prehistoric river landscapes buried beneath East Antarctica's thick ice. This finding, revealed through detailed radar analysis, shows 31 ancient flat surfaces that formed millions of years ago, providing a unique perspective on how the region's geology affects ice dynamics. These formations, hidden under ice as thick as 2,500 meters, may help scientists predict how Antarctica's ice sheets will respond to climate change. As lead researcher Dr. Guy Paxman noted, the shape of these surfaces is key to understanding ice flow at the region's edge.

Key Takeaways

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Vast prehistoric river systems found under East Antarctica's ice

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Ancient plains could slow ice loss and sea level rise

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Understanding these features is vital for accurate climate models

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Research emphasizes the need for high-resolution geological analysis

"Information such as the shape and geology of the newly mapped surfaces will help improve our understanding of how ice flows at the edge of East Antarctica."

This quote emphasizes the significance of the new findings for ice flow dynamics.

"These ancient features may anchor ice during future warming events."

This statement highlights the potential benefits of the discovered river plains in stabilizing ice sheets.

This discovery opens a new chapter in climate science by highlighting the role of ancient features in current ice sheet stability. The preserved river plains could serve as crucial anchors for ice during periods of warming, ultimately affecting the pace of sea level rise. Given that East Antarctica holds around 90 percent of Antarctica's ice, the insights gained from this research could reshape our understanding of future sea-level projections and underscore the urgent need for advanced modeling techniques to incorporate such complexities.

Highlights

Ancient rivers could hold the key to slowing sea level rise.
Uncovering Antarctica's hidden features changes our climate model game.
These prehistoric plains survived for millions of years beneath ice.
Understanding ancient landscapes is crucial for future climate projections.

Potential implications for climate policy

The findings on ancient river systems could shape future climate strategies, especially regarding sea level rise predictions, which may elicit public and political responses.

Further studies could revolutionize climate predictions from Antarctica's ice sheets.

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