New Map Shows Antarctica Without Ice

What lies beneath the kilometers-thick ice of Antarctica? If the ice sheet were completely removed, it would not reveal a monotonous block of rock, but rather an astonishingly diverse landscape: high mountains, broad valleys, and above all an extensive hillscape that has so far been underestimated. A new study now provides the most detailed picture yet of this hidden continent.

Because Antarctica today is covered by glaciers and massive ice sheets over about 98 percent of its area, exploring what lies beneath poses a particular challenge. A research team led by Helen Ockenden from Université Grenoble Alpes combined high-resolution satellite images of the ice surface with data on ice thickness and glacier flow dynamics. The report was published on January 15, 2026, on Science.org. In this way, a new map of the rocky surface beneath the ice was created—more precise than any before.

The Ice Reveals What Lies Beneath

For their analysis, the scientists used a model known as Ice Flow Perturbation Analysis. This method calculates how ice moves as it slides over the underlying terrain. Even though mountains and valleys are hidden beneath the ice, they have a clear influence on glacier flow. Hills and mountain ranges slow and compress the ice, while valleys and gorges channel and accelerate it. These effects leave measurable traces on the ice surface, allowing an indirect view of the landscape below.

Tens of Thousands of Hills and Surprising Valleys

The new map reveals a real surprise. Nearly 72,000 hills lie beneath Antarctica’s ice—about twice as many as previously known. In other regions, instead of the expected gentle landforms, researchers found rugged, alpine landscapes with steep slopes and prominent ridges.

Particularly striking is an area known as the Maud Subglacial Basin. There, the team discovered a valley nearly 400 kilometers long with steep but relatively short flanks. Although the valley is on average only about 50 meters deep, it measures an impressive six kilometers in width—an unusual profile that clearly differs from classic mountain valleys.

Significance for Climate Change

These structures are not only geologically fascinating but also highly relevant to climate science. A rough, hilly surface increases friction at the base of glaciers and can slow their flow. Valleys that slope steeply toward the ocean, by contrast, act like sliding tracks and accelerate ice movement. Such differences help determine how quickly ice reaches the sea—and thus how strongly sea levels may rise as a result of climate change.

Earlier studies had already uncovered spectacular formations beneath the Antarctic ice, including the deepest known canyon on any continent. It reaches about 3,500 meters in depth, making it the lowest point on Earth’s land surface. Only canyons in the oceans are deeper.

Conclusion

Beneath its icy armor, Antarctica is far more complex than long assumed. Thanks to modern satellite data and innovative models, it is now becoming clear just how diverse and rugged the southern continent truly is. This new understanding not only helps reconstruct Antarctica’s geological history, but also improves our ability to assess the future of its ice sheets—and, with them, the future of our global climate.

Heiner Kubny, PolarJournal