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A giant hole in the Bank of Antarctica: “An ecological disaster ignored for 8 years” finally revealed to the whole world

In short
  • 🌊 In 2016, a colossal hole named polynie Maud Rise appeared in the Banger of Antarctica.
  • 🔍 Researchers discovered that the ocean gyre De Weddell helped bring up hot and salty water.
  • 💨 The Transport D’Akman was identified as a key element for the persistence of polynia.
  • 🌐 These discoveries have major implications for the climate research world.

In 2016, an extraordinary event captivated the scientific community: the appearance of an immense hole in the Weddell Sea ice floe, in Antarctica. This phenomenon, called “Polynie Maud Rise 2016”, aroused many questions about her training and reappearance in 2017. After eight years of research, scientists finally discovered the mechanisms behind this mysterious event. This article has explored the discoveries that have made it possible to unravel the secret of this polynia, the largest observed in Antarctic for four decades.

Cursed polynia: an unprecedented phenomenon

The Maud Rise polynia, observed for the first time in 2016, was a source of astonishment for researchers. This hole in the ice floe, with an area twice that of Wales, reappeared the following year before disappearing again. A polynia is a very slim free water area in the middle of the ice floe, and it was the largest recorded in forty years. To explain this phenomenon, the researchers first suspected a combination of unusual oceanic and climatic conditions, exacerbated by a violent storm. However, this explanation was only partial and led to more in -depth research.

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The crucial role of the ocean gyre

Subsequent investigations have identified another major factor at the origin of polynia: Weddell’s ocean gyre. This large whirlwind of water was particularly powerful between 2015 and 2018, causing the rise of hot and salty water to the surface of the sea. This phenomenon contributed to the melting of ice at this specific location. However, continuous melting was not sufficient to explain the persistence of polynia. The water temperature ends up lowering, thus stopping the cast iron process. The interaction between the gyre and the ice was therefore an important piece of the puzzle, but other factors were necessary to completely elucidate this mystery.

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Ekman transport: the missing key element

The persistence of polynia was partially explained by an oceanographic process known as Ekman’s transport. This phenomenon occurs when the superficial layers of the water are moved horizontally by the friction of the wind, causing the more salty water rise in the depths. The data collected by instruments attached to sea elephants and by autonomous floats have shown that this rise was concentrated around the Maud Rise underwater crest, but not directly at the top. This lateral displacement is crucial to understand how polynia has been able to persist so long. The transport of Ekman was therefore identified as the “essential missing ingredient” to explain this phenomenon.

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Implications for climate research

Recent discoveries on Maud Rise polynia have significant implications for climate research. They illustrate the complexity of interactions between ocean currents and sea ice. Understanding these processes is essential to model future climate change, because polynia influence global ocean circulation and earthly climate. Researchers continue to study these phenomena to better anticipate the impacts of global warming in the polar regions. These scientific advances show the importance of monitoring and analyzing oceanic dynamics, which can have repercussions on a global scale.

Research carried out on Maud Rise polynia reveals the complexity of interactions between natural elements and their impact on our planet. While scientists continue to study these phenomena, a question remains: what other surprises do the oceans conceal, and how will these discoveries influence our understanding of climate change?

This article is based on verified sources and the assistance of editorial technologies.

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felicity.rhodes
felicity.rhodes
A Boston-based biotech writer, Felicity peppers CRISPR updates with doodled lab-rat cartoons.
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