Ellsworth Subglacial Highlands
Plateau Subglacial highland region beneath Antarctica's ice sheet
A subglacial highland beneath the Antarctic ice sheet, the Ellsworth Subglacial Highlands figure in geophysical research; visits are limited to scientific expeditions studying ice dynamics and bedrock topography.
The Ellsworth Subglacial Highlands are a group of elevated landforms buried beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet in Ellsworth Land. They are subglacial features identified by geophysical methods rather than surface exposures.
These highlands influence the flow of overlying ice and are of interest to glaciologists and geophysicists studying ice-sheet behavior and bedrock topography beneath the Antarctic ice. They are not accessible on the surface and are known primarily from airborne and satellite surveys.
The feature lies in West Antarctica under the ice sheet in Ellsworth Land, at approximate coordinates near 80.5°S, 94°W, and is part of the continent’s complex subglacial landscape.
- Scientific importance: The highlands are a subglacial topographic feature mapped using ice-penetrating radar and airborne geophysical surveys and are important for understanding ice-sheet dynamics.
Best Time to Visit Ellsworth Subglacial Highlands #
Access is restricted to research expeditions and not typical tourist travel windows.
Weather & Climate near Ellsworth Subglacial Highlands #
Ellsworth Subglacial Highlands's climate is classified as Ice Cap - Ice Cap climate with freezing summers (peaking in January) and freezing winters (coldest in August). Temperatures range from -45°C to -15°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is freezing with highs of -15°C and lows of -24°C. The driest month with just 1 mm and breezy conditions.
Comfort
Weather
February
February is freezing with highs of -21°C and lows of -31°C. Light rainfall and breezy conditions.
Comfort
Weather
March
March is freezing with highs of -29°C and lows of -38°C. Moderate rainfall (53 mm) and breezy conditions.
Comfort
Weather
April
April is freezing with highs of -32°C and lows of -41°C. Moderate rainfall (56 mm) and breezy conditions.
Comfort
Weather
May
May is freezing with highs of -33°C and lows of -42°C. Moderate rainfall (35 mm) and breezy conditions.
Comfort
Weather
June
June is freezing with highs of -35°C and lows of -43°C. Light rainfall and breezy conditions.
Comfort
Weather
July
July is freezing with highs of -36°C and lows of -44°C. Moderate rainfall (43 mm) and breezy conditions.
Comfort
Weather
August
August is the coldest month with highs of -37°C and lows of -45°C. The wettest month with 64 mm of rain and breezy conditions.
Comfort
Weather
September
September is freezing with highs of -34°C and lows of -42°C. Light rainfall and windy conditions.
Comfort
Weather
October
October is freezing with highs of -30°C and lows of -38°C. Light rainfall and breezy conditions.
Comfort
Weather
November
November is freezing with highs of -22°C and lows of -31°C. Light rainfall and breezy conditions.
Comfort
Weather
December
December is freezing with highs of -15°C and lows of -24°C. Light rainfall and breezy conditions.
.jpg?width=600)
.jpg?width=600)
_from_East_by_Christian_Stangl_(flickr).jpg?width=600)
