A glimpse into the hidden past of Antarctica, once a thriving landscape of rivers and forests, is now emerging through the use of satellite observations and penetrating radar. Utilizing satellite data and penetrating radar, scientists have unearthed a landscape in the Wilkes Land region, indicating the presence of valleys and ridges shaped by waterways long before the ice encapsulated the area millions of years ago. The expansive terrain, approximately the size of Belgium or the U.S. state of Maryland, is believed to have originated at least 14 million years ago, coinciding with Antarctica’s descent into a frozen state.
Stewart Jamieson, co-leader of the research study from Durham University in England, described this discovery as a glimpse into the past, hinting at a climate that may have resembled today’s Patagonia or even a more tropical environment. Traces of ancient palm tree pollen found nearby hint at a flourishing ecosystem, yet the specific creatures that inhabited this area remain a mystery due to incomplete fossil records.
Beneath the thick ice layer, measuring between 1.4 to 1.9 miles (2.2 km to 3 km) in depth, lies a realm still less explored than the surface of Mars. The researchers propose drilling through the ice to extract sediment samples, potentially unlocking further insights into the ancient flora and fauna, much like the successful case in Greenland with samples dating back 2 million years.
The transformation of Antarctica from a warm, river-laden land to its current icy expanse took place as the supercontinent Gondwana fragmented due to plate tectonics, isolating Antarctica.
Jamieson hypothesized that during the warmer climate, rivers flowed across this terrain toward a continental coastline formed during the fragmentation process. As the climate cooled, glaciers began to form on the hills, with the subsequent growth of an expansive ice sheet enveloping the entire continent, preserving this ancient landscape for millions of years.
