The recent revelation of the topographical map of Antarctica has unveiled the most detailed profile of the mysterious continent. The data also shows what seems to be the deepest point of land ever recorded. The team of glaciologists working on the BedMachine Project have unveiled the map with this spectacular find.
The point was found in the world’s deepest canyon to date called the Denman Glacier in East Antarctica. This canyon was thought to be shallow in previous studies but the recent survey has revealed it to be about 3500 meters (11500 feet) below the sea level at it’s the deepest point.
The discovery is illustrated in a new map of unprecedented detail. This map and the features it represents will be crucial to understanding the magnetic behavior of the Earth as well. The new finding shows previously unrecognized ridges that will impede the retreat of Glaciers in a warming climate and, alternatively, several smooth terrains that could aid the process. The lowest exposed point of land on Earth, at the Dead Sea shore, is just 413 meters (1,355 ft) deep.
The continuous effort of mapping Antarctica’s terrain with high accuracy has been going on for a very long time. Researchers with their radar instruments and microwave pulse generators have been trying to draw a highly featured map of Antarctica. Despite this effort, a significant area of Antarctica still lies undiscovered.
The method by which the researchers found out the depth of the valley is rather interesting. The researchers measured the amount of ice going in the valley and the amount of ice coming out from it. After they had figured out the speed at which it was coming out, by using the principle of conservation of mass, they could figure out the deepest point of the valley.
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