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September 19, 2025 – Beneath the vast, frozen expanse of Antarctica, a hidden network of lakes is quietly influencing the fate of our planet. A groundbreaking new study reveals the revelation of 85 previously unknown subglacial lakes lurking kilometers under the ice, dramatically increasing the known number of these crucial features to 231.This discovery, made possible by a decade of data from the European Space AgencyS CryoSat satellite, offers unprecedented insight into the dynamic processes occurring at the base of the Antarctic ice sheet and their impact on global sea level rise.
The research, published today in Nature Communications, highlights the importance of these active subglacial lakes – those that cyclically fill and drain – as key indicators of what’s happening far below the surface. Researchers have also identified five interconnected networks of these lakes, revealing complex drainage pathways previously unknown.
A Window into the Unseen
“It is incredibly arduous to observe subglacial lake filling and draining events in these conditions,especially since they take several months or years to fill and drain,” explains Sally wilson,doctoral researcher at the University of Leeds and lead author of the study. “Only 36 complete cycles had been observed worldwide before our study. We observed 12 more complete fill-drain events, bringing the total to 48.”
Image: Antarctic subglacial lake inventory – ESA
For years, understanding the behavior of these hidden lakes has been hampered by the sheer difficulty of observing them through hundreds of meters of ice. But thanks to the precision of satellite technology, a clearer picture is beginning to emerge.
The Power of Satellite Observation
The CryoSat mission, launched in 2010, proved
