Under Antarctica’s Ice, 85 Hidden Lakes Are Revealed — and They Could Move Our World
New data from ESA's CryoSat-2 reveal 85 previously unknown lakes buried beneath Antarctica's multi-kilometer ice. These lakes are 'active': they periodically fill and drain, changing in size and shape over time. With this discovery, the total count of known subglacial lakes rises to 231. The finding exposes a dynamic, hidden hydrological system whose behavior can influence how fast ice flows toward the ocean and, ultimately, global sea level.
In This Article:
How We Found Them: CryoSat-2 Uncovers a Hidden Water Web
Researchers used data from the European Space Agency's CryoSat-2 satellite to map lakes hidden under kilometers of ice. They confirmed 85 new active lakes, bringing the total to 231. Before this, only 36 complete fill-and-drain cycles had been documented globally; the new findings add 12 more cycles, indicating a far more dynamic hydrological system. CryoSat-2 also revealed networks of connected lakes that communicate by periodically overflowing water and shedding excess.
How Subglacial Lakes Form: Heat, Friction, and a Sliding Boundary
Two main mechanisms create these lakes: heat rising from within the Earth and friction as ice moves over bedrock. The resulting meltwater pools into lakes that can lubricate the rock–ice boundary. When the lakes fill or breach, the glacier can slide more easily toward the ocean, speeding ice discharge and influencing sea level. “The fact that subglacial lake areas can change considerably over months and years points to a much more dynamic picture than we thought,” says Professor Anna Hogg.
Not All Subglacial Lakes Are Highly Active — Some Are Stable But Risky
Some lakes remain relatively stable, such as Lake Vostok, which lies under about four kilometers of ice. It stores enough water to fill the Grand Canyon. If such a lake were to drain actively, the consequences for Antarctica and the global ocean would be catastrophic.
Why This Changes Climate Forecasts — And Why It Matters to Everyone
These findings show that Antarctica's hidden water system is far more complex and variable than previously thought. Tracking subglacial water flow will sharpen climate models and sea-level forecasts, because many models do not account for under-ice hydrology. The discovery comes as Arctic sea ice also reached its annual minimum, underscoring ongoing global climate shifts. The more we learn about this submerged water, the better we can anticipate future changes and protect communities around the world.
