Mysterious hole discovered in Antarctica.
In the early 1970s, when satellites first began photographing Earth, scientists noticed a mysterious hole above one of Antarctic's seasonal icebergs, floating in the Lazarev Sea.
By summer, the hole had disappeared. For decades, this strange, unexplained event continued to occur.
Until recently, during the continent's coldest winter months, scientists discovered a hole as large as 9,500 square kilometers. Two months later, it had grown by over 740%, before suddenly disappearing once again.
Scientists thought they finally understood why this kept happening. Using satellite observations and data analysis, researchers from New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) discovered that these mysterious holes, known as expanded water zones, are the byproduct of hurricane-force storms.
In September 2017, when hot and cold air masses collided in Antarctica, the authors explain that swirling winds reaching speeds of up to 117 km/h and blowing up waves as high as 16 meters pushed the Antarctic ice pack in all directions and away from the storm, like a drill into the water below.
In reality, this expanded body of water isn't necessarily a bad thing. These ice holes can be incredibly important. As a gateway between the ocean and the sky, they provide vital pathways for wildlife, including seals and penguins, and offer habitats for phytoplankton.
These gaps also have a strong impact on the atmosphere and are an indicator of climate change research.
"Once opened, this expanded body of water acts like a window through the sea ice, transmitting a tremendous amount of energy during the winter between the ocean and the atmosphere," said the lead author of the new study, NYUAD atmospheric scientist Diana Francis.
