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Antarctica knows how to surprise. Source: Google/Peter Rejchek/National Science Foundation
For centuries, Antarctica has held intrigue due to its unexplored desert landscapes. This year, researchers have identified the top 4 most mysterious discoveries in the icy kingdom.
One of the "wonders" of 2024 was an eerie door in the snow. Researchers have also been thinking for a long time about the solution to the "blood-filled" waterfalls in the icy Antarctic, TheSun reports.
Secret doorway
An image of Antarctica on Google Maps went viral in October as it revealed a secret passage in the snow southeast of Japan's Showa station.
After the photo was posted online, users began to put forward various theories about the strange opening, from theories about Nazi bunkers to a secret city in the Earth's crust.
But it turns out that the mysterious doorway is an iceberg stuck in the snow.
Blood flowing down
The terrifying "blood falls" in the middle of Antarctica have been a mystery to scientists for over 110 years. Finally, an American research team discovered tiny spheres in the water that turned red when they came into contact with air. And against the background of white snow and ice, it looked really creepy.
The nanospheres, consisting of iron, flint, calcium, aluminum, sodium, and other elements, contributed to the transformation of meltwater into a reddish-orange color.
The iron in the nanospheres formed iron oxides and hydroxides as soon as water met air, the scientists explained. The high salinity and the presence of chlorine, magnesium, and sodium played an important role in the formation of the yellow-orange iron phases.
A giant hole
Giant holes in the Earth are always a source of intrigue. Thus, Polynia, an area of open water surrounded by sea ice, has puzzled scientists since it was first spotted on a satellite image half a century ago.
According to scientists, in 1974 the hole was about the size of New Zealand. Then the giant hole was not seen again until 2017, when it suddenly reappeared, about the size of Portugal.
In May 2024, experts finally discovered what was forming the hole. A strong current moving around the Maud Rise seamount in the Wendell Sea created violent eddies – a reverse current that pushed salt to the sea surface.
When the salt reached the surface, a process called Ekman transport occurred, which moved the water at a 90-degree angle in the direction of the wind, the researchers say. This made it easier for the salt to mix with the heat at the surface and melt the ice, forming a large hole.
Ice that sings
Thanks to winds that can reach 320 km/h, eerie sounds can often be heard in Antarctica.
Scientists have discovered that the 600 km long Ross Ice Shelf sings when the wind blows. When gusts blow through the snow dunes, it creates a vibration that researchers can listen to using seismic sensors.
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