Mysterious hole discovered in Antarctica
In the early 1970s, when satellites first began taking pictures of Earth, scientists noticed a mysterious hole above one of Antarctica's seasonal ice sheets, floating in the Lazarev Sea.
By summer, the hole had disappeared. For decades, the strange, unexplained events continued to occur.
Until recently, during the continent's coldest winter months, scientists discovered a 9,500 square kilometer hole. Two months later, it had grown 740% larger, before suddenly disappearing again.
Scientists think they finally understand why this keeps happening. Using satellite observations and data analysis, researchers from New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) have discovered that these mysterious holes, called open water zones, are the leftovers of cyclones.
In September 2017, when warm and cold air collided in Antarctica, the authors explain that swirling winds reaching speeds of up to 73 mph (117 km/h) and whipping up waves up to 50 feet (16 m) high pushed the Antarctic ice pack in all directions and away from the storm, like a drill bit into the water below.
This open water isn’t all bad. These icy breaches can be incredibly important. As a gateway between the ocean and the sky, they provide vital pathways for wildlife, including seals and penguins, and provide habitat for phytoplankton.
These voids also have a strong influence on the atmosphere and are an indicator of climate change research.
“Once opened, this expanse of open water acts like a window through the sea ice, transferring a huge amount of wintertime energy between the ocean and the atmosphere,” said lead author of the new study, NYUAD atmospheric scientist Diana Francis.
