Quaking beneath the ice

The geology of East Antarctica lies hidden below many kilometers of ice, and presents a fascinating and complex problem for geologists. Historically, very few earthquakes have been recorded in Antarctica but data from a new seismic array has allowed scientists to detect earthquakes below the ice, and their results directly contradict the notion that Antarctica is seismically and tectonically inactive.

Test, Collapse, Swarm

In 2017, the government of the North Korea detonated a hydrogen bomb. In the following days, several additional seismic events were recorded. Using seismic data from the IRIS DMC and other networks, researchers were able to determine locations and probable causes for these seismic events.

Antarctic Ice Shelf ‘Sings’

According to research led by Colorado State University, winds blowing across snow dunes on Antarctica’s Ross Ice Shelf cause the massive ice slab’s surface to vibrate, producing a near-constant set of seismic tones that could potentially be used to monitor changes in the ice shelf.