Relics of ‘lost continents’ hidden under Antarctica are revealed by satellite images after scientists track 200 million years of tectonic plate shifts

Images reveal a timeline of the ancient landmasses buried beneath Antarctica
They were taken by the long-dead Gravity field and Ocean Circulation Explorer
The ESA satellite collected data on Earth’s gravitational pull

The European Space Agency (ESA) has uncovered relics of lost continents that have hidden under Antarctica for millions of years.

Satellite images reveal a timeline of the ancient landmasses buried a mile (1.6 km) beneath the icy continent.

Scientists said the snaps shed new light on Antarctica, the ‘least understood continent on Earth’.

They used data from the long-dead Gravity field and Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE), which plummeted into Earth after it ran out of fuel in 2013.

While the satellite has been out of action for five years, scientists are still pouring over reams of data it collected on Earth’s gravitational pull.

Their research allowed them to track hidden tectonic shifts over the last 200 million years, offering fresh insights into how Antarctica formed. Pictured left is the position of the tectonics 180 million years ago, while right shows the plates 10 million years ago

A team of scientists used GOCE readings to map out the movements of Earth’s tectonic plates under Antarctica.

Their research allowed them to track hidden tectonic shifts over the last 200 million years, offering fresh insights into how Antarctica formed.

‘These gravity images are revolutionising our ability to study the least understood continent on Earth: Antarctica,’ said co-author Fausto Ferraccioli, Science Leader of Geology and Geophysics at the British Antarctic Survey.

‘In East Antarctica, we see an exciting mosaic of geological features that reveal fundamental similarities and differences between the crust beneath Antarctica and other continents it was joined to until 160 million years ago.’

Scientists combined the GOCE readings with seismological data to create 3D maps of Earth’s lithosphere.

The lithosphere is made up of the crust and the molten mantle beneath Earth’s surface, and includes mountain ranges, ocean backs and rocky zones called cratons…...more here

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Relics of ‘lost continents’ hidden under Antarctica are revealed by satellite images after scientists track 200 million years of tectonic plate shifts