A polynya is a stretch of unfrozen sea in the middle of an ice sheet. Polynyas can be a place for algae, plankton, and larger animals to thrive, and they represent an important part of the Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems. Polynyas can reach sizes up to tens of thousands of square kilometers.
Polynyas form from wind blowing areas of ice away or from warm water welling up from lower layers of the ocean and melting the ice on the surface. Some polynyas are permanent fixtures, while some open and close seasonally. Climate change can have drastic effects on polynyas, causing some of them to collapse unexpectedly.
NASA’s Earth observation data include several products useful to the study of polynyas, including imagery of polynya occurrences, ocean wind and wave data, and sea ice concentration. These data help scientists learn more about topics such as ocean processes, ocean ecosystems, plankton, climate change, and the cryosphere.
Access a range of datasets and data tools to further your research into polynyas.
While NASA data are openly available without restriction, an Earthdata Login is required to download data and to use some tools with full functionality.
Learn About the Benefits of Earthdata LoginFrequently Asked Questions
Our online forum provides a space for users to browse thousands of FAQs about research needs, data, and data applications. You can also submit new questions for our experts to answer.
Submit Questions to Earthdata Forumand View Expert Responses