More than half a mile beneath Antarctica’s Kamb Ice Stream, scientists have identified a slow-moving river that had remained concealed for thousands of years. The find is shedding new light on the way the continent melts from below and may help researchers better understand future risks for coastal communities.
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During a 2025 expedition, researchers drilled more than 1,600 feet into the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and found a subglacial river flowing beneath the Ross Ice Shelf, according to Earth.com. The waterway, described as roughly the height of a 30-storey building and about the width of a city block, consists of a mixture of freshwater and seawater gradually moving towards the ocean.
Expedition leader Huw Horgan said the team reached water at the bottom of the borehole and, using a camera, also spotted a group of lobster-like creatures some 400 kilometres from the open sea. Researchers believe the river experiences a major surge around once every ten years, when nearby lakes drain into it in what appears to be a vast underground drainage network. These pulses of water may be cutting channels into the ice, speeding up melting and transporting nutrients that support isolated ecosystems beneath the surface.
The Ross Ice Shelf plays a crucial role in slowing the movement of inland ice, acting as a natural barrier that helps limit sea-level rise. However, if rivers such as this one thin the shelf from underneath, it may become easier for land ice to slide into the ocean more quickly.
Rising sea levels can intensify the impact of extreme weather by worsening tidal flooding, placing greater strain on coastal areas and increasing pressure on food supplies and public health systems. Scientists have also warned that changing water movement may affect how some pathogens spread.
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Although extreme weather is a natural feature of the climate, researchers say human-driven pollution is increasing the severity of storms, floods and droughts. For that reason, a better understanding of hidden Antarctic systems could prove vital in helping societies prepare for future change. While subglacial rivers themselves cannot be stopped, efforts to cut pollution and improve energy efficiency may help reduce the wider drivers of climate change. Measures such as solar panels with battery storage, cleaner transport and better home insulation are among the steps often highlighted as practical ways to lower emissions and improve resilience.
