What Is a Polynya?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. What is a polynya?

The Big Idea

A polynya is a patch of open water surrounded by sea ice! It sounds like pol-IN-yah. These watery windows are very important for wildlife. Let's peek inside!

Wind Pushes Ice

Step one: wind makes a gap. Strong winds can push ice away from the coast or from other ice. That leaves a patch of open water behind, like a window in a frozen blanket.

Warm Water Rises

Step two: warm water rises. Sometimes warmer water rises from below. That keeps the surface from freezing, even when the air is bitterly cold.

Animal Oasis

Step three: an animal oasis. Seabirds, seals, and whales gather at polynyas to find food and to take a breath. One of the biggest is the North Water polynya, near Canada and Greenland.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Sea ice surrounds the polynya. In the middle is open water, where the ice cannot form. Whales and seals come up to breathe. And seabirds dive in for fish.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! The word polynya comes from a Russian word for a hole in the ice. Some polynyas appear year after year in the same places. Animals learn where they are and return again and again, like visiting a favorite park. Never go near thin ice or open water by yourself.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, cut a hole in the middle of a paper plate. Set it on blue paper. This is a polynya! Draw animals visiting it. Share what you discover with a grown-up.

Outro

A polynya is an open-water oasis in the ice. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!