Study suggests the underwater valleys have a major impact on ice loss and ocean circulation
Scientists have mapped 332 Antarctic canyon networks to help assess the future course of climate breakdown.
The research, published in the journal Marine Geology, shows in high resolution submarine valleys that can reach down more than 4,000 metres, more than twice the depth of the Grand Canyon in the US.
The resulting data shows that the canyons may have a bigger impact than thought on ocean circulation, ice-shelf thinning and climate change.
The study was carried out by researchers from the Faculty of Earth Sciences at the University of Barcelona, Spain, and the marine geosciences research group at University College Cork, Ireland.
