Huge never-before-seen lake spotted hiding under Antarctic ice

[Judi Lynn]

Huge never-before-seen lake spotted hiding under Antarctic ice
22 April 2016

By Andy Coghlan

Antarctica may be hiding a large lake under its ice – second only to Lake Vostok in size ­– according to data presented at the European Geosciences Union meeting in Vienna this week.

Such subglacial lakes are of great interest because of the possibility that they could harbour unique life forms that may have existed in isolation, locked under ice for millions of years.

Although it doesn’t quite beat Lake Vostok‘s 240-kilometre by 60-metre size, the new lake is much closer to a research station. This would make it easier to approach and study in detail, says Martin Siegert of Imperial College London, a member of the team that located the putative lake.

The team’s claim comes from satellite imagery, in which they identified grooves on the ice surface similar to those present above known subglacial lakes and channels.

More:
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2085523-huge-never-before-seen-lake-spotted-hiding-under-antarctic-ice/

[Tobin S.]

1. Thanks for all of the science articles you post, Judi.

I don't post much here, but I read a lot and you're always putting up something interesting.

[mopinko]

4. +1

love the science group.

[byronius]

2. Yes, thanks for posting.

[AuntPatsy]

3. Agree with other posters, always interesting Ops, thank you