Scientists have discovered a rift the size of the Grand Canyon hidden under the Antarctic ice sheet, which they say is contributing to ice melt and a consequent rise in the sea level.

The rift, some 1.5 kilometres deep, 10 kilometres wide and 100 kilometres long, was found by researchers using radar to measure the subglacial topography. 

Glaciologist Robert Bingham said scientist believe a shrinking West Antarctic Ice Sheet is responsible for about 10 per cent of climate-change-induced sea level rise, which if unchecked threatens to flood many coastal cities within a few generations. 

The sheet, a huge mass of ice up to four kilometres thick that covers the land surface and stretches into the sea, is melting faster than any other part of Antarctica.

India has done a soft launch of its third research station in Antarctica's Larsemann Hills region, considered as one of the few geological windows into the history of the continent. Shailesh Nayak, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, told PTI that the construction is over and it is being run on trial basis.

The winter team is there carrying out tests on various equipment and systems. The formal launch of the research station, Bharti is expected in November when it is summer time in the icy continent.

The leader of the 15-member team Mr. Rajesh Asthana said, the research station would address the growing urge in the Indian scientific community for exploring deeper and wider areas of Antarctica for better understanding of the vast continent.