Scientists have produced the most detailed map yet of the landscape hidden beneath Antarctica’s vast ice sheet, offering new insights into how the continent may respond to climate change.
Using satellite observations combined with physical models of glacier movement, researchers reconstructed the shape of the land buried under kilometres of ice. The results reveal thousands of previously unknown hills and ridges and provide far clearer images of subglacial mountain ranges than earlier maps.
Although uncertainties remain, the team says the new data significantly improves understanding of Antarctica’s underlying terrain and its influence on ice flow. This knowledge is critical for predicting how fast glaciers could retreat as temperatures rise and how much they may contribute to future sea-level rise.
Until now, scientists have had a strong grasp of Antarctica’s icy surface thanks to satellites, but the bedrock below has been far harder to study. Traditional radar surveys from aircraft or the ground only covered narrow tracks, often leaving large gaps between measurements.
To overcome this, researchers analysed subtle changes in ice surface shape and speed, which reflect the contours of the rock below. Similar to how surface ripples in a river can hint at submerged rocks, variations in glacier flow can reveal hidden ridges, valleys and plains.
The approach uncovered tens of thousands of new features and clarified the structure of known formations. Among the most striking findings is a deep channel in the Maud Subglacial Basin, averaging 50 metres deep, about six kilometres wide and stretching nearly 400 kilometres across the continent.
Experts say the map is not the final word on Antarctica’s hidden geology, as it relies on assumptions about ice behaviour and lacks direct observations of underlying rocks and sediments. However, when combined with future surveys from the air, ground and space, it provides a major step forward.
By refining computer models of ice movement, the new map could help scientists better estimate how Antarctica’s ice sheet will evolve in a warming world. Given the continent’s potential impact on global sea levels, reducing this uncertainty is a key goal of climate research.
About the author
Cuba hit by massive nationwide blackout
Millions of residents in Cuba were left without electricity after the country’s national power grid suffered a major collapse on Monday, according to the state operator UNE. The outage affected most parts of the island, marking another serious disruption in an ongoing energy crisis. Authorities said efforts are underway to gradually restore power across provinces and major cities, although the process remains slow and unstable. This latest blackout adds to a series of nationwide outages that have become increasingly frequent in recent years. The situation is largely driven by persistent fuel shortages. The country depends heavily on imported oil to generate electricity, but supplies have sharply declined. Previously, Venezuela provided a significant share of Cuba’s fuel needs, estimated at around half of total consumption. However, those shipments have stopped, worsening the crisis. Pressure has also intensified from the United States, […]
Les enfants, premières victimes des conflits
À travers le monde, les enfants restent les premières victimes des conflits armés qu’ils n’ont pas choisis. Face à cette situation, les Nations unies alertent sur l’urgence d’une mobilisation internationale pour mieux protéger les plus vulnérables. « Protéger les enfants n’est pas un luxe. C’est une obligation juridique et un impératif moral », a déclaré Nada Al-Nashif, haute responsable des droits de l’homme de l’ONU. Elle souligne que, dans les conflits actuels, les enfants ne sont plus seulement des victimes indirectes, mais deviennent de plus en plus des cibles directes. Des régions d’Afrique au Moyen-Orient, en passant par l’Europe de l’Est, les crises se multiplient et s’intensifient. Les conséquences pour les enfants sont graves et répétitives : déplacements forcés, interruption de la scolarité, traumatismes psychologiques et violences physiques. À cela s’ajoutent des risques accrus de recrutement forcé, de détention arbitraire […]
Utah mother guilty of husband’s poisoning murder
A jury in the US state of Utah has found Kouri Richins guilty of murdering her husband, Eric Richins, in a case that drew national attention due to its unusual circumstances. Prosecutors said Richins poisoned her husband in March 2022 by giving him a drink laced with fentanyl. After deliberating for about three hours, the jury returned a guilty verdict on multiple charges, including aggravated murder and attempted murder. During the trial, the court heard that the 35-year-old had accumulated significant financial debt and had taken out life insurance policies on her husband. Prosecutors also alleged she was involved in an extramarital relationship and stood to gain financially from her husband’s death. More than 40 witnesses testified during the proceedings, including a woman who told the court she had supplied the drugs used in the crime. The defence team did […]
Air strike hits Kabul rehab centre amid tensions
Dozens of people are feared dead or injured after an air strike hit a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul, intensifying tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Authorities in Afghanistan said the strike occurred on Monday evening and targeted a facility treating drug addiction. A spokesperson for the Taliban government blamed Pakistan for the attack, reporting multiple casualties. However, Islamabad denied hitting any civilian or health-related site, stating that its operation focused strictly on military targets and infrastructure linked to militant groups. Journalists from BBC News who visited the scene reported extensive damage, with parts of the centre still burning hours after the strike. More than 30 bodies were seen being carried away, while emergency teams continued searching for survivors. Officials at the rehabilitation centre said around 2,000 people were undergoing treatment at the time of the incident, raising fears that the […]
L’ONU alerte sur la montée de l’islamophobie
À l’occasion de la Journée internationale de lutte contre l’islamophobie célébrée le 15 mars, le Secrétaire général des Nations unies a exprimé son inquiétude face à la progression des discours de haine visant les musulmans. Dans un contexte international marqué par des tensions identitaires, il a appelé à une mobilisation collective fondée sur le respect des droits humains et l’inclusion. Lors d’une session de l’Assemblée générale, António Guterres a mis en garde contre une augmentation préoccupante de l’islamophobie à travers le monde. Il a souligné que cette tendance représente une menace pour la cohésion sociale et les valeurs universelles. Le phénomène s’inscrit dans une dynamique plus large de montée des discours de haine, souvent amplifiés par les réseaux sociaux, mais aussi par certains discours politiques qui associent de manière abusive religion, sécurité et identité. Ces dérives se traduisent par diverses […]
Togo : critique du rebranding des institutions
Dans une tribune critique, le journaliste Rodrigue Ahégo dénonce ce qu’il considère comme une stratégie de rebranding des institutions publiques au Togo, sans réformes profondes. À travers plusieurs exemples, il remet en cause l’efficacité de certaines structures et appelle à des changements structurels pour répondre aux attentes des citoyens. Selon l’auteur, les changements d’appellation de certaines institutions ne suffisent pas à corriger leurs dysfonctionnements. Il estime que ces modifications relèvent davantage d’une opération de communication que d’une véritable volonté de transformation. Pour lui, remplacer des sigles associés à des critiques passées ne permet pas d’améliorer concrètement leur fonctionnement. Dans son analyse, il évoque notamment des institutions comme la HAAC, la HAPLUCIA et le FAIEJ, qu’il considère comme représentatives de difficultés structurelles. Il affirme que ces organismes, censés jouer un rôle clé dans la régulation, la lutte contre la corruption ou […]
Related
Iran rejects truce bids as Israel targets top security chiefs
Iran has rejected proposals from foreign intermediaries to ease tensions or agree a ceasefire with the United States and Israel, insisting it is not yet the right time for peace . A senior Iranian official said two countries had passed on ideas to reduce tensions or reach a ceasefire, but Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader, turned them down . According to the official, Khamenei told his first foreign policy meeting that there could be no peace until the United States and Israel are brought to their knees, accept defeat and pay compensation . Khamenei’s comments came as the US Israeli war on Iran entered its third week, with at least 2,000 people reported killed and no sign of an end to the conflict . The Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for about 20 percent of global oil […]
Cuba hit by massive nationwide blackout
Millions of residents in Cuba were left without electricity after the country’s national power grid suffered a major collapse on Monday, according to the state operator UNE. The outage affected most parts of the island, marking another serious disruption in an ongoing energy crisis. Authorities said efforts are underway to gradually restore power across provinces and major cities, although the process remains slow and unstable. This latest blackout adds to a series of nationwide outages that have become increasingly frequent in recent years. The situation is largely driven by persistent fuel shortages. The country depends heavily on imported oil to generate electricity, but supplies have sharply declined. Previously, Venezuela provided a significant share of Cuba’s fuel needs, estimated at around half of total consumption. However, those shipments have stopped, worsening the crisis. Pressure has also intensified from the United States, […]
Utah mother guilty of husband’s poisoning murder
A jury in the US state of Utah has found Kouri Richins guilty of murdering her husband, Eric Richins, in a case that drew national attention due to its unusual circumstances. Prosecutors said Richins poisoned her husband in March 2022 by giving him a drink laced with fentanyl. After deliberating for about three hours, the jury returned a guilty verdict on multiple charges, including aggravated murder and attempted murder. During the trial, the court heard that the 35-year-old had accumulated significant financial debt and had taken out life insurance policies on her husband. Prosecutors also alleged she was involved in an extramarital relationship and stood to gain financially from her husband’s death. More than 40 witnesses testified during the proceedings, including a woman who told the court she had supplied the drugs used in the crime. The defence team did […]
Air strike hits Kabul rehab centre amid tensions
Dozens of people are feared dead or injured after an air strike hit a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul, intensifying tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Authorities in Afghanistan said the strike occurred on Monday evening and targeted a facility treating drug addiction. A spokesperson for the Taliban government blamed Pakistan for the attack, reporting multiple casualties. However, Islamabad denied hitting any civilian or health-related site, stating that its operation focused strictly on military targets and infrastructure linked to militant groups. Journalists from BBC News who visited the scene reported extensive damage, with parts of the centre still burning hours after the strike. More than 30 bodies were seen being carried away, while emergency teams continued searching for survivors. Officials at the rehabilitation centre said around 2,000 people were undergoing treatment at the time of the incident, raising fears that the […]
EU rejects Trump request on Strait of Hormuz
European Union leaders have rejected a request from United States President Donald Trump for military help to secure the Strait of Hormuz, as EU foreign ministers met in Brussels to discuss soaring oil prices caused by the US Israeli war on Iran . Trump had urged the United Kingdom, China, France, Japan, South Korea and other NATO allies to send naval ships to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, warning it would be very bad for NATO’s future if partners did not help secure the vital waterway . US officials spent the weekend trying to build support for a new coalition to patrol the strait and said they hoped to announce it in the coming days, although it remains unclear which countries will join or when any operation would start . Many close US allies are reluctant to send […]
UK, allies working on Hormuz plan but rule out NATO mission, says Starmer
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the UK is working with allies on a “viable” plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz but has ruled out any NATO led mission.He said the goal is to restore freedom of navigation in the vital oil route without dragging Britain into a wider Middle East war. Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Starmer revealed he had discussed the crisis with US President Donald Trump and several European leaders.He explained that the UK is coordinating with European partners, Gulf countries and the United States on a collective response. Starmer stressed that any operation to secure shipping lanes will not be under the NATO umbrella and has “never been envisioned” as a NATO mission.Instead, he said it would likely involve a broader coalition that includes regional partners most directly affected by Iran’s actions. Pressed […]