China's 41st research trip to Antarctica reveals important findings on polynyas
China's 41st Antarctic expedition has revealed important findings regarding polynyas.
TroibNews 
China's 41st Antarctic expedition has achieved a significant milestone by completing a critical survey of the Amundsen Sea and Ross Sea, revealing rare examples of polynyas. These essential open-water areas within sea ice have a profound impact on both Antarctica's ecosystem and global climate dynamics.
Sun Yongming, a member of the expedition, discussed the visualization of sea ice concentrations and the importance of polynyas along the coastal regions.
"This map shows the average sea ice concentration from 2013 to 2020. It reflects data for November, with yellow areas indicating 100 percent ice coverage and pure blue areas representing 0 percent, or open water. Along the coast, you can see the blue water surface, which we call polynyas," Sun noted.
Polynyas develop through various natural mechanisms. Sun elaborated that the most prevalent process involves katabatic winds—strong, downward gusts that displace newly formed sea ice from the coast, resulting in open water patches. This type of polynya, classified as wind-driven, varies in size over time due to changing weather conditions.
"In extremely low temperatures, it's only these polynyas that produce new ice. Once new ice forms, it gets blown outward by the wind, and more ice continues to form, so we refer to this process as an 'ice factory.' We typically measure a polynya's size by the amount of ice it produces. The Amundsen Sea polynya is currently the fourth largest among all the polynyas around Antarctica; it's quite substantial," he added.
Antarctica is home to over a dozen sizable polynyas, with the Amundsen Sea polynya ranking among the largest and most critical. These regions are integral to the area's heat exchange, enhancing biological productivity and providing vital insights into the intricacies of Antarctica's ecosystem.
"Polynyas facilitate heat exchange, which creates a more favorable environment for biological activity. Studies show that the Amundsen Sea polynya has the highest primary productivity of all the polynyas around Antarctica. That's why we're particularly focused on understanding how polynyas impact the entire ecosystem, which is why we've been conducting extensive ecological observations in the area," Sun concluded.
The expedition departed from Guangzhou, a southern Chinese port city, on November 1, 2024, utilizing three vessels: the Xuelong and Xuelong-2 for scientific research and logistics, along with the cargo ship "Yongsheng" supplying materials for the Qinling Station. The mission is expected to last nearly seven months, with a return planned for May 2025.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
Sun Yongming, a member of the expedition, discussed the visualization of sea ice concentrations and the importance of polynyas along the coastal regions.
"This map shows the average sea ice concentration from 2013 to 2020. It reflects data for November, with yellow areas indicating 100 percent ice coverage and pure blue areas representing 0 percent, or open water. Along the coast, you can see the blue water surface, which we call polynyas," Sun noted.
Polynyas develop through various natural mechanisms. Sun elaborated that the most prevalent process involves katabatic winds—strong, downward gusts that displace newly formed sea ice from the coast, resulting in open water patches. This type of polynya, classified as wind-driven, varies in size over time due to changing weather conditions.
"In extremely low temperatures, it's only these polynyas that produce new ice. Once new ice forms, it gets blown outward by the wind, and more ice continues to form, so we refer to this process as an 'ice factory.' We typically measure a polynya's size by the amount of ice it produces. The Amundsen Sea polynya is currently the fourth largest among all the polynyas around Antarctica; it's quite substantial," he added.
Antarctica is home to over a dozen sizable polynyas, with the Amundsen Sea polynya ranking among the largest and most critical. These regions are integral to the area's heat exchange, enhancing biological productivity and providing vital insights into the intricacies of Antarctica's ecosystem.
"Polynyas facilitate heat exchange, which creates a more favorable environment for biological activity. Studies show that the Amundsen Sea polynya has the highest primary productivity of all the polynyas around Antarctica. That's why we're particularly focused on understanding how polynyas impact the entire ecosystem, which is why we've been conducting extensive ecological observations in the area," Sun concluded.
The expedition departed from Guangzhou, a southern Chinese port city, on November 1, 2024, utilizing three vessels: the Xuelong and Xuelong-2 for scientific research and logistics, along with the cargo ship "Yongsheng" supplying materials for the Qinling Station. The mission is expected to last nearly seven months, with a return planned for May 2025.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
