Be

Scientists find rivers under Antarctic ice

Underground plumbing system moves water hundreds of miles

Updated: 1:23 p.m. ET April 19, 2006

LONDON - Rivers as big as the Thames in England that may connect subglacial lakes have been found deep under the Antarctic ice, scientists said Wednesday.

British researchers who discovered the plumbing system that moves water hundreds of miles said it challenges the notion that the lakes under the Antarctic ice evolved independently and could support pristine ancient life.

"Previously, it was thought water moves underneath the ice by very slow seepage," said Professor Duncan Wingham of University College London, who headed the research team. "But this new data shows that, every so often, the lakes beneath the ice pop off like champagne corks, releasing floods that travel very long distances."

read more

posted by ... @ 11:30 AM