Hidden Liquid Freshwater Lake Found Under A 62-Mile-Long Ice Sheet In Antarctica

A liquid freshwater lake was found under a 62-mile-long ice sheet in Antarctica. The recent discovery was second only in size compared to Lake Vostok, the largest subglacial lake found in the continent.

The subglacial lake was discovered by a team of researchers from the U.S., U.K. and China because of satellite images that showed grooves on the ice sheet's surface, Motherboard reported. It has a ribbon shape, and measures about 100 kilometers (62 miles) long and 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) wide.

The second subglacial lake was found sprawled across Antarctica's eastern quadrant. Experts believe that the subglacial lake is still linked to the canyon and has channels branching away from it that could be carrying water into the West Ice Shelf and the ocean.

More Tests Required

The subglacial lake was discovered thanks to a radar apparatus that penetrates the icy ground - a method that was also used to find Lake Vostok. The research team will be conducting more tests to ensure that there is indeed a subglacial lake beneath the ice in the area.

Experts are also pleased that the new subglacial lake's location is near a functioning research station, which means that it is easier for the scientists to do research on the body of water. Biologists are hoping that more studies of the newly found subglacial lake -- along with Lake Vostok -- will help them understand the behavior of Antarctica towards climate change.

Lake Vostok's Discovery

Lake Vostok was first penetrated by Russian scientists in 2012, with the second one conducted in 2015, New Scientist wrote. The first drill was deemed unsuccessful because the water obtained from Lake Vostok was contaminated with the fluid used in the borehole equipment, such as kerosene to prevent the ice from freezing during the drilling process.

In the second drill, the research team was careful to avoid contaminated samples and took measures to ensure that they only acquire pristine water from Lake Vostok. To do this, experts used a probe that weighed 50 kilograms and can collect water untouched by anti-freezing materials.

Researchers believe that Lake Vostok contains uncommon microbes and bacteria, but the body of water is difficult to study because of its isolated position. Lake Vostok has been buried beneath the thick ice for 15 million years, New Scientist noted.

Experts said it will take years before they can wholly understand their findings from Lake Vostok, according to RT. Their progress will be careful as they drill deeper into the ice.

Lake Vostok has an area of 15,000 square kilometers and is 800 meters deep in some parts, as per BBC. It was in 1956 when the Russians first recognized Lake Vostok, while the British started mapping it in the 1990s.