Scientists from the University of Edinburgh are to be the first ever to map the landscape of East Antarctic in detail.

Scientists from the University of Edinburgh are to be the first ever to map the landscape of East Antarctic in detail.

The four-year project is being led by scientists from the Universities of Edinburgh and Texas, with the cooperation of the Australian Antarctic Division.

The team will fly over the region using a heavily modified Douglas DC-3 aircraft, which will use high-resolution radar and other instruments to gauge the thickness of the ice and examine the composition of the rocks beneath.

It is hoped that the findings from this £3million study will fill one of the largest gaps in scientists’ knowledge of Antarctica, thus advancing the understanding of climate change and helping to forecast future rises in sea levels.

Professor Martin Siegert, Head of the School of GeoSciences and a joint leader of the study, told Student, “It’s exploration, it’s adventure, and it’s exciting, but there are sound scientific reasons for undertaking this project.”

“Satellite measurements are showing that the ice sheet surface is lowering, and has been doing so for the last ten years, and we need to know why. We’re worried about these small changes.”

Professor Siegert said that previous research of this nature had been undertaken but was halted in the 1970s.

“In the 1970s the U.K was the leader in long range air exploration,” commented Professor Siegert. “They covered over 40 per cent of the ice sheet, but they left data gaps.”

It is now possible to resume research because the Australians have built an airstrip that can be used for this project.

The data gathering will take place over three Antarctic seasons, and it is expected that work will begin in December this year.

According to Professor Siegert, this is only one of the projects that he is hoping to see realised in the near future.

Beneath the Antarctic ice sheet there are more than 145 subglacial lakes. These lakes represent unique biological habitats, and it is hoped that by drilling, sampling and studying these lakes remotely more information can be amassed about that life that dwells there.

Lake Ellsworth in West Antarctica is well suited for such a study and a £7m proposal to explore this lake is currently under review.

“It’s a very exciting time at the moment” said Professor Siegert, “It’s lovely to see all these projects coming to fruition.”