A long-lost landscape, concealed beneath the East Antarctic ice sheet for over 14 million years, has been unveiled through the innovative use of satellite data and aircraft equipped with ice-penetrating radar. In a groundbreaking study published in the journal Nature Communications, scientists have employed remote sensing techniques to map a vast 32,000 square kilometers (equivalent to the size of Belgium).

This hidden terrain, formed by ancient rivers before the development of the East Antarctic ice sheet, is believed to have resembled the picturesque hills and valleys of present-day North Wales.

The primary aim of the researchers was to chart the history and evolution of the ice sheet over time. Recognizing what the landscape looked like before being obscured by ice is an essential piece of this puzzle, as highlighted by lead study author Stewart Jamieson, a professor at the University of Durham's Department of Geography.

Jamieson noted, "The land beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet is less well known than the surface of Mars, and that's a problem because that landscape controls the way that ice in Antarctica flows, and it controls the way it might respond to past, present, and future climate change."

What sets this revelation apart is the remarkably well-preserved nature of the landscape. It's rare to discover relatively unaltered terrains beneath a continental ice sheet, as the ice's movement typically erodes and grinds down any ancient features.

Understanding why this specific ancient landscape remained largely intact could hold vital insights for scientists seeking to predict the future dynamics of the East Antarctic ice sheet, which has the potential to contribute to sea-level rise by approximately 60 meters as our planet continues to warm.

The study also draws attention to Earth's climatic trajectory. The temperatures that this landscape likely experienced when it formed, between 34 to 14 million years ago, were significantly higher than today, ranging from 3 to 7 degrees Celsius above present levels.

The East Antarctic ice sheet's initial formation dates back some 34 million years. Over the eons, it has fluctuated in size, periodically unveiling the land below. Jamieson explained that the survival of this landscape suggests that the temperatures at the base of the ice sheet were extremely cold and stable, despite intermittent periods of climate warming.

What has been particularly revealing is the geophysical data collected by the scientists. This data indicates subtle changes in the shape of the ice's upper surface, portraying interconnected valleys hidden beneath the ice. In essence, this is like glimpsing the ghostly remnants of a landscape from above.

While the research team is yet to uncover evidence of the plant and wildlife that might have inhabited this area, the presence of ancient rivers strongly implies the presence of flowing water, making it highly likely that the landscape was once teeming with vegetation.