Using over a decade of data from ESA’s CryoSat satellite, scientists have identified 85 previously unknown active subglacial lakes beneath Antarctica, bringing the total to 231.
These lakes, hidden several kilometres below the surface, periodically fill and drain—movements detected through subtle ice surface height changes measured by CryoSat’s radar altimeter. The discovery also adds 12 new complete fill-and-drain cycles to the global record, expanding our understanding of Antarctica’s hidden hydrological systems.
The findings, published in Nature Communications, reveal that subglacial water networks are far more dynamic and interconnected than previously thought, shaped by geothermal heat and ice movement at the continent’s base. These interactions influence how ice flows and could have implications for predicting Antarctica’s future contribution to sea-level rise. Read the full story on ESA EO pages.