Unveiling the Secrets of the Antarctic Ocean Floor: Ancient Volcanoes and Strong Currents Mapped

High-resolution maps of the seafloor in the Southern Ocean have revealed a chain of underwater volcanoes that may be influencing ocean currents and contributing to ice melt and sea level rise in Antarctica. The volcanoes, located 13,000 feet below the waves, are in the path of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which acts as a barrier to keep Antarctica frozen. The new maps could help predict how the leak in the barrier will evolve as oceans warm due to climate change. Mapping the Southern Ocean will provide insights into ice melt and sea level rise in Antarctica.