Ancient world beneath Antarctica changes our understanding of Earth

An immense, fan-shaped geological structure comprising around thirty interconnected basins has been identified beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Geoscientists, led by Egidio Armadillo from the University of Genoa, discovered this feature using radar and geophysical measurements, naming it the East Antarctic Fan-shaped Basin Province (EAFBP).

The EAFBP extends towards the coast, appearing as if a portion of the continent has been stretched from a central point inland. Researchers hypothesize that this structure may have originated before the supercontinent Gondwana fractured, creating a zone of weakness that potentially influenced the subsequent separation of Antarctica and Australia. Its presence might still be shaping the continent's current form.

Given that these basins lie beneath approximately half of the East Antarctic ice cover, they are believed to significantly impact ice flow and landscape evolution. This makes them critical for understanding Antarctic glacial and hydrological processes. The shape of the land beneath the ice dictates the movement of glaciers, making detailed knowledge of these subglacial terrains essential for accurate predictions of ice flow.

Furthermore, studying these hidden landscapes offers invaluable insights into Earth's history. Antarctica constitutes about ten percent of the planet's total landmass, and many mysteries surrounding Gondwana, continental breakup, and mountain formation remain partly unresolved due to the inaccessibility of much of the continent. The discovery of the EAFBP provides a new window into these ancient geological processes.

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Since these basins are located under about half of the East Antarctic ice sheet, they probably strongly influence the flow of ice and the evolution of the landscape, making them key to Antarctica's glacial and hydrological processes.