Waves in Antarctic polynya fracture surrounding sea ice during extreme wind events
Scientists report that waves generated inside a coastal polynya in East Antarctica broke up the surrounding sea ice on October 29, 2026.
Waves fracture ice from inside out
Researchers found that strong winds create waves within the Vincennes Bay Polynya. These waves become steep enough to break the surrounding sea ice during extreme events. This process triggers feedback loops that change how the polynya evolves over time.
Study published in Nature Communications
The team originally intended to study Southern Ocean waves traveling through hundreds of kilometers of ice. They deployed wave-measuring buoys to observe these interactions. The findings show that local wind-generated waves play a critical role in maintaining open water areas.
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