Beneath Antarctica's seemingly endless ice sheet lies a hidden world of liquid lakes, and their secrets are finally being unveiled. But here's where it gets controversial: these subglacial lakes, long thought to be static, are actually dynamic systems that could significantly impact global sea levels. Recent research has uncovered a staggering 85 new lakes, nearly doubling the known count, and revealing a complex network of water movement beneath the ice. This discovery, published in Nature Communications (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63773-9), challenges our understanding of Antarctica's role in climate change.
Way Beneath the Surface
Imagine a layer of ice 4,000 meters thick—that's where these lakes reside. Sally Wilson (https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/see/pgr/9946/sally-wilson), a glaciologist at the University of Leeds and lead author of the study, explains, 'These lakes are incredibly deep, nestled between the ice and the bedrock.' What keeps their waters liquid? A combination of frictional heat from the moving ice sheet and geothermal energy from the Earth's interior.
Unveiling the Hidden with Satellite Eyes
Wilson and her team harnessed the power of CryoSat-2 (https://www.esa.int/Applications/ObservingtheEarth/FutureEO/CryoSat), a European Space Agency satellite, to detect changes in ice surface height. 'When a lake fills, the ice above it rises—it’s like a blister forming under the ice sheet,' Wilson describes. By analyzing data from 2010 to 2020, they identified 85 regions with height changes of meters, not just centimeters, a clear sign of active subglacial lakes.
A Dynamic Census
Of these lakes, 50 showed both filling and draining behavior, with 10 completing full cycles over several years. But here’s the twist: the lakes don’t always fill or drain to the same levels. For instance, Whillans_180 in West Antarctica exhibited a pattern of uplift and subsidence, but with varying magnitudes. Additionally, five regions revealed interconnected lakes, suggesting a complex hydrological network. 'Tracking water movement under the ice is the next frontier,' Wilson notes, highlighting the challenge of mapping this hidden system.
The Lubrication Effect
Water from these lakes doesn’t just sit idly; it can act as a lubricant, accelerating glacier flow and contributing to sea level rise. 'This process is a critical piece of the climate puzzle,' Wilson emphasizes. Moreover, when this freshwater eventually reaches the ocean, it can alter local currents and impact marine life around ice shelves.
A Window to the Deep
Leigh Stearns (https://groups.universitylife.upenn.edu/penn-polar/), a glaciologist at the University of Pennsylvania, praises the study: 'Being able to infer what’s happening at the ice sheet’s bed from surface observations is groundbreaking.' This research was made possible by the longevity of CryoSat-2, which has far exceeded its initial mission timeline, providing invaluable long-term data.
The Bigger Picture
As Katherine Kornei (@KatherineKornei (https://twitter.com/katherinekornei)), a science writer, points out, 'We should invest in maintaining these datasets—they’re crucial for understanding polar changes.' But this raises a question: Are we doing enough to monitor these hidden systems, or are we missing critical clues about our planet's future?
What do you think? Is the dynamic nature of these subglacial lakes a game-changer in our understanding of climate change, or is there more to uncover? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Citation: Kornei, K. (2025), Satellite data reveal changing lakes under Antarctic ice, Eos, 106, https://doi.org/10.1029/2025EO250412. Published on 4 November 2025.
Text © 2025. The authors. CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/) Except where otherwise noted, images are subject to copyright. Any reuse without express permission from the copyright owner is prohibited.
