RINGS is an international scientific programme that brings together researchers from numerous countries to investigate the Antarctic Ice Sheet using airborne geophysical surveys. Supported by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the project aims to improve our understanding of the landscape hidden beneath Antarctica's ice and the processes that control the stability of the ice sheet.

One of the project's primary objectives is to create a comprehensive map of the bedrock topography beneath the Antarctic coastal ice sheet. This hidden landscape strongly influences how glaciers flow towards the ocean and how the ice sheet responds to a changing climate. By improving knowledge of the bed beneath the ice, scientists can develop more accurate models of future ice-sheet behaviour and sea-level rise.

To achieve these goals, research aircraft equipped with advanced geophysical instruments collect measurements of ice thickness, bedrock elevation, gravity and other key properties across large areas that are otherwise inaccessible. These observations allow researchers to study both the geometry of the ice sheet and the physical processes controlling ice flow and mass balance along Antarctica's coastline.

Princess Elisabeth Antarctica serves as an important operational base for survey flights in Queen Maud Land, supporting international teams working to close major gaps in Antarctic observations. The datasets produced by RINGS contribute to global efforts to improve predictions of the future evolution of the Antarctic Ice Sheet and its contribution to global sea-level change.