A groundbreaking new map,Bedmap3, has provided the most detailed view yet of the hidden landscape beneath Antarctica’s ice sheet, revealing towering mountains, deep valleys, and critical grounding lines where ice meets the ocean.

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has released the most detailed map yet of what Antarctica looks like when you strip away its ubiquitous cover of ice and snow. Derived from 60 years of data, it will help scientists understand ice flows better.

There are few frontiers in the world that can still be said to be unexplored. One of these terra incognita is the land beneath Antarctica’s ice sheets. Buried under kilometres of ice is a fascinating realm of canyons, waterways, and lakes. These features have now been revealed in the most detailed picture yet of the land beneath the ice.

The British Antarctic Survey have released the most detailed map yet of the landscape beneath Antarctica's ice sheet

As the planet warms, Antarctica's ice sheet is melting and contributing to sea-level rise around the globe. Antarctica holds enough frozen water to raise global sea levels by 190 feet, so precisely predicting how it will move and melt now and in the future is vital for protecting coastal areas.