Scientists find lakes, streams on Antarctica ice sheet
Q. Scientists have found vast _______ on the surface of Antarctica ice sheets accelerating rise in sea level?- Published on 02 May 17a. Lakes
b. Streams
c. Both a and b
d. None of the above
ANSWER: Both a and b
Scientists have found that vast lakes and streams are widespread on the surface of Antarctica's ice sheets.
This may accelerate its contribution to the rise in sea-level as it moves surface water across its ice sheets onto ice shelves.
Researchers used aerial photography and satellite imagery to find that melt-water moves vast distances across the surface of the ice sheets onto ice shelves.
Huge lakes have been forming on the surface of Antarctica since at least the 1940s and extensive networks of streams have been draining water onto vulnerable ice shelves that are prone to collapse.
Scientists previously believed that the drainage of surface water, known as melt-water, was a rarity in Antarctica.
Ice shelves, which are floating parts of ice sheets, are prone to collapse when water flows into their cracks and crevasses.
If melted completely, Antarctica's ice sheets contain enough water to raise global sea levels by around 58 metres.
