Huge underwater lakes beneath the largest glacier in East Antarctica have been discovered by Australian researchers. These lakes were spotted by scientists setting off small explosives 2m below the surface of the Totten glacier and listening to the reflected sound.
As per, Australian Antarctic Division, the research was dangerous to helping scientists predict how the melting of Antarctic glaciers would change the world’s oceans.
The Totten glacier is 30 km wide, 2 km thick and has the potential to raise sea levels by 7 meters.
Galton-Fenzi mentioned that the explosives were a sound source for people, and it would then echo off different layers in the ice. They placed geophones (a series of microphones) along the surface of the glacier to listen to the reflected sound, giving a picture of what lies beneath the ice.
He also added that, the speed glaciers travel at is determined by what they move across. The glacier will move faster if there’s bedrock under the glacier.
Galton-Fenzi said the next step for researchers would be to drill down to take a sample of the lakes but he grieved there was no funding certainty for future research.
The scientists, who were based at Casey research station, were among more than 550 expeditioners who travelled with the Australian Antarctic Program over the southern summer, working on more than 56 projects.
Image Credit: Wikipedia
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