Overview

• Researchers have identified the mechanisms behind the formation of the Maud Rise polynya, a large opening in Antarctica's sea ice.
• The phenomenon involves Ekman-driven salt transport, enhancing the vertical mixing of warm, salty water with surface waters.
• The polynya, first observed in the 1970s, has appeared sporadically, with significant occurrences in 2016 and 2017.
• This discovery is crucial for understanding regional oceanic and atmospheric dynamics and their long-term impacts.
• The findings also relate to broader trends of decreasing sea ice in the Southern Ocean, influenced by shifting climate patterns.