What Antarctica Would (Will) Look Like Without Ice

antarctica bedrock bedmap — This topography map, called Bedmap2, was compiled by the British Antarctic Survey and incorporates millions of new measurements, including substantial data sets from NASA’s ICESat satellite and an airborne mission called Operation IceBridge. Click image to enlarge and zoom in. (NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center)

As the ice caps melt, the inevitable consequence is a rise in sea levels, leading to a transformation of the Earth due to climate change. NASA has envisioned a concept of what Antarctica would appear like in the absence of ice. Bedmap2, developed by NASA in 2013, encompasses an intricate topographical representation, consisting of a collection of gridded products.

The spectacular topographic map reveals the subglacial terrain of Antarctica and the fluctuating sea elevation, employing radar technology and meticulous data acquisition involving 25 million measurements. By offering valuable insights, Bedmap2 sheds light on a dynamically changing world.

The visualization is based on new data compiled by scientists at the British Antarctic Survey over the last two decades, including surface elevation readings and ice thickness data measured with ice-penetrating radar. Check out the animation and a 2D map for comparison below.