Science & Technology

Incredible new map shows what Antarctica would look like without ice

By T.K. Randall
March 25, 2025

Image: Antarctica - Petermann Island
Credit: W. Bulach / CC BY-SA 4.0 (adapted) Many works of fiction over the years have detailed the possibility of finding a 'lost world' that has remained untouched since prehistoric times and incredibly, one such place actually does exist - Antarctica - an entire continent that has remained buried in ice for millions of years.

Now, the British Antarctic Survey has released a highly detailed map showing exactly what Antarctica would look like if the ice wasn't there.

Incorporating data captured over six decades of research, the map shows this remote continent as having a highly varied landscape complete with mountains, river basins, lakes and plains.

It's difficult to imagine now, but the dinosaurs once roamed this long-lost land which at the time would have been covered in primordial forests and swamps.No doubt fossil evidence of its ancient residents is still waiting to be found beneath the ice.

Scientists are now hoping to use the new map to help them model how climate change will impact the ice over the coming years.

"This is the fundamental information that underpins the computer models we use to investigate how the ice will flow across the continent as temperatures rise," said glaciologist Dr Hamish Pritchard.

"Imagine pouring syrup over a rock cake - all the lumps, all the bumps, will determine where the syrup goes and how fast."

"And so it is with Antarctica: some ridges will hold up the flowing ice; the hollows and smooth bits are where that ice could accelerate."

Source: bas.co.uk

Tags: Antarctica