NASA image of Antarctic sea ice, taken by the MODIS Rapid ResponseTeam.Fastice holds fast to a coast
NASA image of Antarctic sea ice, taken by the MODIS Rapid ResponseTeam.Fastice holds fast to a coastlineor the sea floor, while pack ice driftswith the winds and currents. Pack ice is dynamic, so pieces cancollide and form much thicker ice.Narrow,linear openings (from metres to kilometres long) continually form anddisappear. These are called leads.Largeropenings that last longer are called polynyas. They are sustained by upwelling currents of warm water, or by steadywinds that blow the ice away as quickly as it forms. Polynyas oftenoccur along coastlines when winds blow persistently offshore. -- source link
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