Australian scientists from CISRO have created a detailed map of the seafloor along the path of the Antarctic Circular Current, the strongest ocean current on Earth. This situation was officially reported Web site CISRO.
Oceanologists used information obtained from a new satellite from NASA and the French National Center for Space Research (SWOT). The orbital scan helped measure the height of the seafloor.
The analysis showed the existence of a volcanic chain stretching from Tasmania to Antarctica, with a total area of 20 thousand square kilometers at a depth of about four kilometers. Scientists have also found gaps in this natural barrier that allow warmer water to penetrate the Antarctic region and accelerate the melting of polar ice.
According to researchers, the volcanic ridge in the Antarctic Circular Current region formed about 20 million years ago. The relief affects the movement of underwater currents, creating eddies. These vortices transfer heat and various substances from the surface to depth.
Oceanographers hope the new information will allow them to better predict sea level rise due to melting Antarctic ice.
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