Stories of Impact
UCC Research Maps Hidden Antarctic Canyons Critical to Climate Predictions
Dr Riccardo Arosio of the Marine Geosciences Research Group leads study uncovering 332 deep-sea canyons shaping global ocean dynamics
Groundbreaking new research led by Dr. Riccardo Arosio of the Marine Geosciences Research Group based in the UCC School of BEES and the UCC Sustainability Institute has revealed the most detailed map to date of submarine canyons carved deep into the Antarctic seafloor- features that play a crucial but often overlooked role in regulating global ocean circulation and climate.
Published in the journal Marine Geology, the study catalogues 332 previously unmapped canyon networks, some plunging over 4,000 metres - deeper than the Grand Canyon. Using state-of-the-art geomorphometric analysis and data from the International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean (IBCSO v2), the team classified these deep channels based on 15 morphological parameters, offering new insights into their formation and function.
“The canyons channel warm water from the open sea towards the coastline, thinning the floating ice shelves and contributing to the rise in global sea levels,”
— Dr Riccardo Arosio, of the UCC Sustainability Institute speaking to The Guardian
The research reveals striking contrasts between East and West Antarctica: while eastern canyons tend to be longer, branching, and U-shaped- suggesting persistent glacial erosion- those in the west are shorter, steeper, and V-shaped, reflecting a different glaciological history.
This work highlights how sub-grid scale ocean processes, often missing from current climate models, could have outsized impacts on ice sheet dynamics and climate feedbacks.
As the climate crisis accelerates, this research underscores the need for high-resolution seabed data to inform more accurate predictive models- a goal aligned with the UCC Sustainability Institute’s mission to advance climate science with real-world impact.
Read more on The Guardian, ScienceDirect, or EurekAlert.