In 2017, a large polynya, or open stretch of water surrounded by sea ice, appeared in Antarctica's Weddell Sea near Maud Rise. This event intrigued scientists, as such large and persistent polynyas in that region had not been observed since the 1970s.
A recent study has shed light on the complex factors contributing to the polynya's formation. Researchers from the University of Southampton, the University of Gothenburg, and the University of California San Diego, found that a faster-spinning Weddell Gyre drew warm, salty water upwards, melting the ice from below. Additionally, extratropical storms pushed sea ice outward, and a process called Ekman transport moved salt onto the northern flank of Maud Rise, further contributing to the melting.
Aditya Narayanan of the University of Southampton, Fabien Roquet of the University of Gothenburg, and Sarah Gille from the University of California San Diego were among the key researchers involved in the study, published in 'Science Advances'. The polynya eventually refroze in September 2017. Scientists continue to study the implications of polynyas on the global climate and ocean circulation.