Scientists reveal how Antarctic lakes work

A team of Spanish scientists has just solved one of the great mysteries of the frozen continent. Until now, the behavior of groundwater in Antarctica was largely unknown. However, a new study led by the CSIC has successfully mapped how the hidden network of water sustaining the lakes on Deception Island actually functions.

These lakes, located at the bottom of enclosed volcanic craters, are not isolated pools of water. In reality, they are directly connected to the ocean through the subsurface, and their water levels rise and fall with the tides. This is an extremely rare phenomenon in polar environments.

The ground acts like a giant sponge

The research, led by Jorge Jódar of the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME-CSIC) and based on data collected during the 2024 and 2025 expeditions, shows that the key lies in the island’s geology. The terrain is made up of highly permeable volcanic sediments that act like a sponge, allowing 41 percent of all incoming water to filter underground, mainly due to summer ice melt.

Researchers discovered that beneath the ice there are two interconnected aquifers. The first is shallow, seasonal, and linked to permafrost, the permanently frozen layer of soil. The second is much deeper, allows water to flow more freely, and maintains a constant connection to the sea. This continuous underground circulation helps keep the lake water fresh despite their proximity to the ocean.

A tool for measuring global warming

To scientists, Deception Island is a unique natural laboratory where active volcanoes, glaciers, and permafrost coexist. To better understand its aquifers, researchers have, for the first time, linked elevation with the chemical composition of snow and rainfall. By combining these data, they have not only identified the precise origin of the water feeding the lakes, but can now interpret ancient climate records preserved in the ice with far greater accuracy.

All of this information is essential for predicting how Antarctic soils will respond to global warming and the gradual degradation of permafrost. The fieldwork and data collected have enabled the CSIC to establish a major milestone in polar science by developing a pioneering analytical method that can now be used to uncover the secrets of many other unexplored regions of Antarctica.

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