Polynya

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A polynya (Russian: полынья; IPA: [pəlɨˈnʲjə] ice hole) is an area of open water surrounded by sea ice.

Some polynyas, such as the North Water Polynya in Canada, occur seasonally at the same time and place each year. Because animals can adapt their life strategies to this regularity, these types of polynyas are of special ecological research significance. In winter, marine mammals such as walruses, narwhals and belugas that do not migrate south, remain there. In spring, the thin or absent ice cover allows light in, through the surface layer as soon as the winter night ends, which triggers the early blooming of microalgae that are at the basis of the marine food chain. So, polynyas are suspected to be places where intense and early production of the planktonic herbivores ensure the transfer of solar energy (food chain) fixed by planktonic microalgae to Arctic cod, seals, whales, polar bear and humans.

[edit] Reference

• International North Water Polynya Study (NOW)

[edit] External links

• Weddell Polynya
• The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition on "polynya"
• Polynya north of Alaska at NASA Earth Observatory