US EditionHigh-Resolution Chart Reveals 332 Antarctic Submarine Canyons
ANTARCTICA, JUL 22 – The new catalogue identifies 332 Antarctic submarine canyon networks, nearly five times more than before, revealing their key role in ocean circulation, ice-shelf thinning, and climate impact.
- Publishing in Marine Geology, researchers unveiled a detailed map of Antarctic submarine canyons, mapping 332 networks with depths exceeding 4,000m.
- Facing underrepresentation in polar regions, the team aimed to fill data gaps, as limitations in canyon data hinder understanding of oceanographic, climatic, geological and ecological roles, prompting the comprehensive mapping effort.
- Using cloud computing and GIS software, the study mapped 332 submarine canyon networks on the Antarctic seafloor, revealing depths over 4,000 meters through integrated, systematic protocols.
- Amid concerns over model accuracy, the study highlights canyon effects, showing that current global circulation models fail to capture local processes affecting ocean circulation, ice-shelf thinning, and climate.
- Looking ahead, the team calls for expanded high-resolution mapping and model refinement, prompted by findings that when shelves weaken or collapse, ice flows more rapidly into the sea, contributing to sea level rise.
19 Articles
19 Articles
A map produced by international teams shows deep and complex formations that transform understanding of the dynamics of the polar oceans
New map reveals 332 Antarctic submarine canyons, five times more than before
Submarine canyons are among the most spectacular and fascinating geological formations to be found on our ocean floors, but at an international level, scientists have yet to uncover many of their secrets, especially those located in remote regions of Earth like the North and South Poles.
Researchers issue warning after making concerning discovery in Antarctica: 'It's a global story'
Surface meltwater is increasing in East Antarctica, raising concerns about the future of the ice sheet. What's happening? The University of Liverpool in a news release said this was "the first Antarctic-wide, high-resolution monthly dataset of surface meltwater using satellite images." Changes to the region's ice due to rising temperatures could cause mass loss and subsequent catastrophic sea-level rise. The study, published in Nature Climate Ch…
Scientists Just Turned Dusty Navy Photos Into a Climate Time Bomb
A long-lost photo snapped from a Navy plane in 1966 has become the unlikely key to understanding how Antarctica’s ice shelves collapse—and what it means for rising seas around the world. Scientists at the University of Copenhagen combined these forgotten aerial images with modern satellite data to track the slow but relentless disintegration of the [...]
Continent-wide mapping shows increasing sensitivity of East Antarctica to meltwater ponding
Surface meltwater is predicted to become increasingly important for Antarctic mass loss as atmospheric temperatures rise, due to its potential to influence ice dynamic, hydrofracture and radiative processes. However, our understanding of Antarctic surface meltwater is limited, with previous studies restricted in spatial or temporal scope. Here, using cloud computing, we produce an Antarctic-wide, monthly dataset of surface meltwater for 2006 to …
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