Antarctic 'Hummingbird' Terrain Revealed by Advanced Satellite

A powerful new perspective on Antarctica has emerged, thanks to the NISAR satellite, a joint endeavor between the United States and India. Launched into a near-polar orbit, NISAR observes Earth's surface changes with centimeter-level precision, capturing details previously hidden beneath the ice.

The satellite's recent observations of the Antarctic continent have revealed a striking 'hummingbird' formation. This shape is not a natural landscape feature but an illusion created by a mountain named Nunatak Zaterjavshijsja and the glaciers flowing around it. As the massive glaciers move towards the northeastern sea, they exert immense pressure on the mountain, carving deep fissures known as crevasses into the ice surface. These crevasses, when viewed through NISAR's radar, create the distinct outline and feather-like patterns of a hummingbird.

Unlike conventional optical satellites that show only a white expanse of snow and ice, NISAR's radar signals can penetrate the icy layers. This allows scientists to visualize the underlying glacial structures and the 'true face' of the hidden Earth. The colors in the images represent different radar signal reflections: green indicates crevasses, magenta signifies smooth ice plains, and white denotes areas where these features blend.

"Radar signals can penetrate deep into the ice, revealing characteristics of Antarctic glaciers that conventional optical cameras cannot see," explained Jeong Seong-soo, a signal analysis researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "Thanks to this, we can look into the true nature of the Earth hidden beneath the ice surface."

NISAR, which began operations in July 2025, generates vast amounts of data daily. Its advanced synthetic aperture radar technology allows for continuous observation, regardless of sunlight or weather conditions. This capability is invaluable for monitoring the speed and structural changes of glaciers, predicting sea-level rise due to global warming, and aiding in the response to natural disasters like earthquakes and landslides.

“

Radar signals can penetrate deep into the ice, revealing characteristics of Antarctic glaciers that conventional optical cameras cannot see. Thanks to this, we can look into the true nature of the Earth hidden beneath the ice surface.