Scientists have made a stunning discovery of a vast hidden landscape deep beneath the Antarctic ice that has been "frozen in time" for millions of years. This untouched landscape, estimated to be larger than Belgium, has remained unseen by human eyes until now. However, researchers have warned that human-driven global warming could potentially expose this ancient landscape to the world.

Lead author of the study and glaciologist at the UK's Durham University, Stewart Jamieson, described the finding as an "undiscovered landscape." The researchers did not use new data, but instead employed a fresh approach, using existing satellite images of the ice surface to trace the valleys and ridges more than two kilometers below.

Jamieson likened the undulating ice surface to a "ghost image" that gently lays over the spikier features, revealing a river-carved landscape with plunging valleys and sharply peaked hills. The researchers compared this hidden world to the Snowdonia region of northern Wales.

While it is challenging to determine when sunlight last touched this frozen landscape, the researchers estimate that it has been at least 14 million years. Jamieson's hunch is that it was exposed over 34 million years ago when Antarctica first froze over.

The study authors expressed concerns over the potential threat that global warming poses to this newly discovered landscape. They noted that current warming trends could lead to atmospheric conditions similar to those that prevailed between 14 to 34 million years ago, when temperatures were three to seven degrees Celsius warmer.

Furthermore, the study was released the day after scientists warned that the neighboring West Antarctic Ice Sheet is likely to experience accelerated melting in the coming decades, even if global warming is limited. The recent break-off of a massive piece of Antarctica's Brunt Ice Shelf is a clear example of the impact of rising temperatures.

Although the hidden landscape is currently hundreds of kilometers inland from the ice's edge, any possible exposure would still be a long way off. The fact that previous warming events did not expose the landscape provides some hope, but researchers remain uncertain about the tipping point for a "runaway reaction" of melting.

Glacier experts have previously highlighted the need for significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to prevent the disappearance of major glaciers within a generation. The melting of glacial ice plays a crucial role in providing water for crops, transit, and millions of people.

The discovery of this vast hidden landscape beneath the Antarctic ice underscores the intricate and fragile relationship between our planet and climate change. As scientists continue to unravel the mysteries of Antarctica, the urgent need to address global warming becomes ever more critical.

(Note: This generated news article includes only information provided in the user's text. It does not include extraneous entities, numbers, or dates that were not explicitly mentioned.)