Lowest point on Earth

The deepest point on the continental Earth has been discovered in East Antarctica under the Denman Glacier. This ice-filled canyon is 3,500 meters below sea level. There are deeper troughs only in the ocean. For 10 years, scientists from the University of California have been receiving and processing radar data from satellites to create an accurate digital elevation model of Antarctica, but unexplored areas remain - mostly ice accumulations more than 1,000 meters thick. The satellite's radar signal cannot penetrate ice of such thickness.

  In this case, scientists use another method. If it is known how much ice is entering a narrow valley and how fast it is moving, the volume of that ice can be determined, giving an idea of the depth and roughness of the hidden valley floor. For the 20-km-wide Denman Glacier, which flows to the ocean on Queen Mary Land, this approach shows that the ice descends to more than 3,500 m below sea level.

Fig. 1 Image of the Denman Glacier

 The resulting relief map of Antarctica is called BedMachine Antarctica. Much of what is in BedMachine Antarctica may not look like other maps at first glance. But upon closer inspection, polar experts will find some fascinating details that can generate considerable discussion.

BedMachine Antarctica .jpg
Figure 2 BedMachine Antarctica.

 For example, there are a number of glaciers along the Transantarctic Mountains that break from the continent's eastern plateau and flow into the Ross Sea. New data show that these glaciers have a high ridge beneath them that will limit the rate at which they can drain the plateau. This will be important if future warming destabilizes the floating ice shelf on top of the Ross Sea.


Fig. 3 Byrd Glacier, a giant ice stream that cuts through the Transantarctic Mountains

 BedMachine Antarctica will be used in climate models that attempt to project how the continent may evolve due to rising temperatures on Earth in the coming centuries.
To create a digital elevation model of an area of interest, please contact Innother at +7 495 245-0424 or send an e-mail request to: innoter@innoter.com.