Overview
- A peer‑reviewed study published in October 2026 reports a grounding‑zone wedge under Vincennes Bay that is about 260 meters high, roughly 65 kilometers long and exceeds 580 cubic kilometers in volume.
- Researchers reconstructed the wedge from 340 kilometers of high‑resolution seismic profiles collected during the Polarstern PS141 expedition in early 2024.
- The internal layers record a period after the Last Glacial Maximum when the ice front stabilized and then advanced about 65 kilometers toward the ocean before retreating again.
- Scientists link the temporary stability to a change in seafloor slope and a more compact subsurface at the grounding zone that increased resistance to ice flow.
- Authors say the finding matters for people because many ice‑sheet models omit detailed bed shape and geology, which can change projections of Antarctic ice loss and future sea‑level rise especially for fast‑draining areas fed by glaciers like Vanderford Glacier.