New Map Reveals Hidden Network of Valleys Beneath Greenland's Ice Sheet

A newly compiled map of the bedrock beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet has revealed an extensive network of valleys that were either missed entirely or only partially captured by previous mapping efforts, according to NASA.

The new terrain map links together hundreds of valleys hidden beneath the ice, offering scientists a more complete picture of the landscape that lies below one of the world's largest ice sheets. Earlier maps of the subglacial terrain had left many of these features fragmented or disconnected, limiting researchers' ability to understand how the underlying topography influences the ice above it.

Mapping the terrain beneath ice sheets is a key tool for researchers studying how ice flows and how it may respond to a changing climate. The shape of the bedrock and valleys beneath an ice sheet can channel the movement of ice and meltwater, making accurate subglacial maps important for projecting future ice loss.

Greenland's ice sheet is one of the largest contributors to global sea level rise, and understanding its internal structure, including the terrain it rests upon, helps scientists refine models of how it may evolve.

The newly connected valley network adds to a growing body of research aimed at understanding what lies beneath the Greenland ice cap, complementing decades of airborne and satellite surveys used to build increasingly detailed pictures of the ice sheet's hidden foundations.