Mega-canyon found beneath Greenland ice

Large canyon which has nearly twice the length of the Grand Canyon in the United States, was found under the ice in Greenland. This report from the British Antarctic Survey scientists that published in the Science journal, was quoted as saying by the French news agency (Agence France-Presse / AFP), on Thursday, August 29, 2013.

Hidden for all of human history, a 460 mile long canyon has been discovered below Greenland's ice sheet. Using radar data from NASA's Operation IceBridg, scientists found the canyon runs from near the center of the island northward to the fjord of the Petermann Glacier. (Picture from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/)

Prior to the formation of a layer of ice about four million years ago, the canyon is believed to be formed by the flow of a river which empties into the central Greenland in the Atlantic Ocean coast. 

Mega-canyon found beneath Greenland ice.
(Picture from: http://www.thehindu.com/)

"The canyon is 750 kilometers along the well maintained under the ice for millions of years. Truly astounding discovery. However, this study is also important for us to understand Greenland in the past," said Prof David Vaughan of the British Antarctic Survey. 

"The Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets hide a lot. It’s pretty surprising to find this canyon. Greenland isn’t that big for a canyon of that size, and for it to survive in its pre-glacial form after successive glaciations is quite something." said Prof Vaughan as told as to BBC.

Prof Vaughan said the canyon would have been partly uncovered at the time of the last interglacial 100,000 years ago. "There’s likely be some sort of bacteria down there - whether it’s viable is a different matter," he said.

The scientists team found the canyon using the radar data are installed in the research aircraft. Radar from the U.S. space agency (National Aeronautics and Space Administration / NASA) that uses radio waves through the ice to measure its depth.

Michael Studinger, a scientist from Operation IceBridge Project Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, describing the discovery is truly amazing. "It shows there are still little things that we know about the Greenland surface beneath the ice," he said.

The canyon has never been seen by humans, who didn't exist four million years ago. If the Greenland ice sheet melts completely it will raise global sea level by 7 metres and swamp many major cities, so hopefully this is one great geographical feature that won't become a tourist destination.. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BBC | SCIENCEDAILY | PIKIRAN RAKYAT 31082013]

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