BEDMAP2 - a benchmark new dataset for Antarctic Earth science

We present BEDMAP2, a new, updated and continuous map of bed elevation and ice thickness for Antarctica and the southern ocean from a large international consortium of Antarctic field programs. We have incorporated all of the ice thickness data from the original BEDMAP with approximately 265 000 km of newly acquired airborne radio-echo-sounding lines over the ice, plus recent, improved compilations of surface elevation, ice shelf thickness and bathymetry. There are significant improvements to the mapping of key areas of rapid change in West Antarctica and recently discovered mountain ranges under the East Antarctic ice sheet. BEDMAP products have for the last decade been key components of ice sheet models, geological models, tectonics and crustal seismics analyses, gravity and magnetic analyses and ice core interpretation. Freely-available BEDMAP2 will continue and enhance this tradition.