As writes Turkey’s Anadolu Agency, these maps help study the movement of ice on the continent and also provide insight into how Antarctica’s glaciers may affect global sea level rise. In addition, the study helps predict the topography beneath the ice based on detailed satellite observations of the ice surface and the physics of ice flow.
By creating the most detailed map of Antarctica’s under-ice topography to date, the researchers have uncovered previously unknown or understudied geologic features, from channels with steep banks that may be associated with mountain drainage systems to deep valleys that resemble U-shaped glacial valleys in other parts of the world.
The research team’s paper uses the following wording: “Our IFPA map of the subglacial landscape of Antarctica demonstrates that very detailed information about Antarctica’s subglacial topography, especially when combined with ice thickness data from geophysical studies, can be derived from satellite observations of the ice surface”.
The map provides information on where future detailed geophysical surveys should be focused, as well as the fine details needed for modeling ice motion.
