(ORDO NEWS) — Specialists who study Antarctica were shocked when they saw a huge hole in the ice on a satellite image.
There are approximately 1,000 scientists in Antarctica every year who study climate change and the history of our planet. Despite the fact that the temperature reaches -90 degrees, research can still be carried out. In addition, data provided by NASA and the European Space Agency must be used.
But the discovery of a giant hole next to the Ross Ice Shelf has puzzled scientists. It was discovered using the ESA CryoSat-2 satellite, which uses special radar technology to make three-dimensional maps of Antarctica. For the discovered giant hole, even a documentary film was made, in which experts tried to explain where such an anomaly could come from.
Scientists initially suggested that the hole could have been caused by a warm ocean current that melted the ice from below. But it was not confirmed due to the fact that the hole is located too far from the ocean. Dr. Brant added that the hole is roughly 60 meters deep.
After some time, another theory appeared. In the distant past, running water could have been present on the surface of Antarctica. She could be trapped in lakes just below the ice sheet. This phenomenon is called “ghost lakes”. Professor Frank Müller-Karger explained that such lakes are invisible to humans, which is why they are called that. These lakes, according to scientists, can interact with each other, which provoked the emergence of a huge hole.
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