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Researchers found a hidden river beneath Greenland’s ice sheet.


Researchers have now stated that a 1000 miles (1600 kilometers) long subterranean river is embedded within a valley beneath the Greenland ice sheet. The river is thought to originate from the central region of Greenland and flows along bedrock all the way to the northern coast

Researchers from Hokkaido University and the University of Oslo presented their study at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) annual meeting. Using computer simulations, the researchers were able to explore the valley to figure out how the river might’ve been created by glacial melt.

Parts of the valley were revealed through radar imaging on planes which was full of gaps. The valley was found to be about 980 feet and 1640 feet (300 meters and 500 meters) deep in some parts that the researchers think is the result of erosion and sedimentation by a river. After digitally filling in the gaps in the radar images of the valley, researchers simulated a river flow in the valley.

The water in the simulation originated from melting glaciers from a known hotspot. Researchers found that the hotspot generated enough water for a river to flow all the way to the northern coast of Greenland, flowing for about 1000 miles.

The author of the study, Christopher Chambers from Hokkaido University explained, Eventually if you get it deep enough minus 500 meters [1,640 feet] the water is now flowing the entire length along the valley and then exiting at Petermann Fjord.

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