Water found under Antarctic ice to raise sea level forecasts

Scientists have detected a network of lakes and rivers of rapidly moving water under the thick ice sheet of West Antarctica, a discovery that will force a revision of predictions of global sea levels as the sheet melts due to climate change.

More than 145 isolated lakes have been previously reported to exist under the ice sheet. But new bodies of water have been discovered by Dr Fricker’s team, ranging in size from 120 to 500 square kilometres (46 to 193 square miles), in 14 places around Antarctica and many are connected by rapidly moving water channels.

guardian