Discover a green space hidden under the ice

Arabia Weather - For centuries, Antarctica has been considered one of the harshest and driest places on Earth, with thick ice covering the surface, making it look like a cold and lifeless world, but researchers and scientists are doing an exceptional job in revealing amazing secrets under this frozen ice. . Recently, something amazing was discovered beneath the surface of the ice, opening a new door to our understanding of life and the environment on this frozen world.

Uncovering a lost world under the ice...a study reveals surprising results

The discovery of vast expanses of green hills and valleys hidden beneath the ice of Antarctica is the result of a study published last week. The British and American researchers who made the discovery are believed to have continued unchanged for 34 million years. However, they have issued a warning. Regarding the effects of climate warming that leads to the melting of ice, which may expose these green areas to the risk of losing their conservative ice cover.

Discovering a new landscape under the ice that no one has seen

The lead author of the study, which was published in the journal Nature Communications, Stuart Jamieson from Britain's Durham University, told AFP:

“A natural scene that has never been observed before in any way.”

There was no need for researchers to use new data to discover this scene. Rather, they simply adopted a new approach in observing this unknown land under the ice sheet in East Antarctica, where there is much less information about this land than is available on the surface of Mars, and to see what lies beneath the ice sheet. Radio waves were transmitted inside the ice sheet, while an aircraft flew above it. The echoes were then analyzed using a technique known as radio ultrasound scanning.

The challenges of discovering the new landscape beneath the Antarctic ice

But implementing this process on the scale of Antarctica, which is larger than the entire Europe, is a huge challenge, as Stuart Jamieson pointed out that the researchers relied on previously available satellite images to identify cliffs and valleys at a depth of more than two kilometers.

Using this data, and combining it with ultrasound scanning information, an image was created of a natural scene that includes a river, deep valleys, and hills with sharp peaks, which is similar to those we currently find on the surface of the Earth. In a comparison made by the glaciologist, he likened this scene to the mountain views he sees. Individuals when they fly over a mountainous area through the plane window, and compare it to the mountains of the Snowdonia region in North Wales.

Ancient green environments and reflections on climate change

It appears that this vast area, which extends over an area of 32,000 square kilometers, in the past contained forests, and may have been home to living organisms before it was covered by ice. Although it is difficult to determine the exact time when the region last saw sunlight, estimates indicate This occurred at least 14 million years ago, although Professor Jamieson expects that this event could date back to more than 34 million years ago, which is when Antarctica began to freeze.

Researchers have previously discovered a city-sized lake under the ice in Antarctica, and the researchers behind this study hope to discover more natural scenes. However, climate warming could pose a threat to their recent discovery. However, the new scene they discovered shows an advantage. Important as it is located several miles away from the edge of the ice, which could protect it from the influence of sunlight in the future.

In addition, it is encouraged to be reassured that this hidden world under the ice has not been affected by the retreat of the ice during past periods of climate warming, such as the Pliocene period, which dates back between 3 and 4.5 million years. It is still not fully known when the point will occur. A climate shift may cause the ice to retreat unexpectedly.

The discovery of green spaces under the ice is a landmark achievement in the field of environmental research and exploration. It sheds light on the mysterious world beneath the surface of the ice, and constantly reminds us that life continues to speak an amazing language in places we did not expect. This discovery reinforces the importance of protecting natural environments, and indicates that Continued research and monitoring are necessary to understand the impacts of climate change on these sensitive environmental places.

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Sources:

alarabiya

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