Researchers have discovered a previously unknown continent-scale geological feature beneath more than three kilometers of ice in East Antarctica, named the East Antarctic Fan-shaped Basin Province, which consists of a network of interconnected subglacial basins including the Wilkes and Aurora basins and the basin containing Lake Vostok.

The structure was likely formed through a process called distributed rotational extension, where continental crust stretched and spread outward from a central point, creating triangular basins, and may represent one of the largest examples of rotational extension ever identified within continental crust.

The discovery was made by combining subglacial topography data with geological observations, gravity measurements, magnetic data, seismic information and models of the crust and lithosphere, and researchers calculated that removing the ice sheet would cause the land to rebound upward by as much as one kilometer.

The buried landscape influences the distribution of subglacial basins and lakes, which control the speed and direction of ice flow, meaning the structure could play a critical role in determining how rapidly ice moves toward the sea if parts of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet become unstable.

The research provides new context for the dramatic differences between East and West Antarctica, with West Antarctica’s bedrock lying much deeper and having been ocean bottom as recently as 120,000 years ago, raising concerns as modern temperatures approach those of that era.

(Natural News)—Researchers have identified a previously unrecognized continent-scale geological feature buried beneath more than three kilometers of ice in East Antarctica, revealing a network of enormous interconnected basins that may reshape scientific understanding of how the continent formed.

The discovery, published in Nature Geoscience, was helmed by researchers including Guy Paxman from Durham University and Egidio Armadillo of the University of Genoa with support from the Italian National Antarctic Research Program. It represents the first time scientists have recognized that several well-known subglacial basins, including the Wilkes and Aurora basins and the basin containing Lake Vostok, form part of a single coherent geological structure they have named the East Antarctic Fan-shaped Basin Province.

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The structure’s fan shape suggests it was created through a geological process called distributed rotational extension, where continental crust gradually stretched and spread outward from a central point. Researchers compare the pattern to a hand, with the base of the thumb as the fixed point and the fingers spreading apart. The triangular basins resemble the gaps between the fingers as the crust opened.

The structure may represent one of the largest examples of rotational extension ever identified within continental crust, according to the research team. Scientists believe the structure developed through multiple tectonic episodes linked to the evolution and later breakup of the ancient Gondwana supercontinent, and it may even have influenced the eventual separation of Antarctica and Australia.

The discovery raises fundamental questions about when exactly the structure formed and what geodynamic mechanisms generated it. But the significance extends far beyond historical reconstruction of Antarctica’s geological past. The shape of the bedrock hidden beneath the ice sheet continues to influence how ice moves across the continent today, according to the research team.

From ocean floor to ice sheet

To investigate the structure, researchers combined subglacial topography data with geological observations, gravity measurements, magnetic data, seismic information and models of the crust and lithosphere. Their analysis indicates the feature results from deep tectonic processes operating within the Antarctic lithosphere.

Paxman led calculations estimating how East Antarctica’s landscape would appear if the entire ice sheet were removed, which would cause the land to rebound upward by as much as one kilometer. This reconstructed rebounded topography allowed researchers to examine both the elevation and orientation of the newly identified geological structure.

The discovery comes at a time when scientists are increasingly concerned about the stability of Antarctic ice in a warming world. The hidden geological structure underlying East Antarctica reveals that the continent’s bedrock is far more complex and interconnected than previously understood.

This matters because understanding what lies beneath the ice is critical for predicting how the ice sheet will behave as global temperatures continue to change. The buried landscape controls the distribution of subglacial basins and lakes, which in turn influence the speed and direction of ice flow. If certain regions of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet become unstable, the newly discovered structure could play a role in determining how rapidly ice moves toward the sea.

Meanwhile, BrightU.AI‘s Enoch engine also mentions that the theory of Earth-crust displacement suggests that Antarctica was once a massive, ice-free landmass located in a temperate climate zone before shifting to its current polar position. This displacement caused the continent to become rapidly covered by a colossal ice cap that continues to grow, storing enough freshwater to dramatically raise global sea levels if it were to melt.

The research also provides new context for understanding the dramatic differences between East and West Antarctica. While East Antarctica’s bedrock sits mostly above sea level and is rugged with mountain ranges, West Antarctica’s bedrock lies far deeper and was once ocean bottom.

Scientists now know that as recently as 120,000 years ago, West Antarctica was likely an open ocean. Nevertheless, the discovery of the East Antarctic Fan-shaped Basin Province represents a significant step forward in understanding the continent’s geological architecture and its implications for the future of the ice sheet in a warming world.

Watch this video about 15 unsettling discoveries in Antarctica.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

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