A vast region of East Antarctica contains enough ice to cause a dramatic rise in global sea levels but was considered relatively stable before. Now, a new study is urging scientists to take a closer look at the Wilkes Subglacial Basin, warning that as the climate warms, this hidden Antarctic ice store could become a significant driver of future sea-level rise.

The Wilkes Subglacial Basin is a huge depression in the bedrock beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Although it is one of the more important parts of Antarctica when it comes to future sea-level rise, it remains vastly unexplored.

In a recent study, published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, scientists found that the basin’s underlying geography could cause it to become unstable as the climate warms. That’s concerning, as the basin contains enough ice to raise sea levels by up to 10 to 13 feet (3 to 4 meters).

The Wikes Subglacial Basin stretches for roughly 870 miles (1,400 kilometers) along the inland side of the Transantarctic Mountains. It is completely hidden beneath a thick layer of ice, so scientists have had to rely on radar and satellite observations to collect data on the vast basin.

“The Wilkes Subglacial Basin is arguably the last unexplored place in Antarctica,” Matt King, a professor at the University of Tasmania and lead author of the new study, said in a statement .

Source link