polynya

noun

po·​lyn·​ya ˌpä-lən-ˈyä 

plural polynyas also polynyi ˌpä-lən-ˈyē 

: an area of open water in sea ice

Examples of polynya in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Understanding the factors that contribute to their creation—especially of an anomalous open-ocean polynya like the large Weddell polynya—can then lead to more accurate predictions of their behavior in a warming climate, the study says. —Ainslie Cruickshank, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Mar. 2021

Since breaking off, both icebergs have moved into an area called a polynya or polynia, where an expanse of open water is surrounded by sea-ice. —Smriti Rao, Discover Magazine, 26 Feb. 2010

It was discovered about a decade ago that this meltwater was providing iron-rich water to the polynya. —Allison Chinchar, CNN, 7 May 2022

Researchers at the University of Toronto-Mississauga found the polynya formed on May 14, 2020. —Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 15 May 2020

The Weddell polynya, however, formed much farther from shore. —Ainslie Cruickshank, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Mar. 2021

The team found that, in order for a polynya to occur, there need to be a perfect storm of factors, so to speak. —Aj Willingham, CNN, 11 June 2019

Records show that the 2016 polynya originally formed at the same time a storm swept through the region. —Chelsea Harvey, Scientific American, 11 June 2019

For instance, the deep water that upwells to the surface at a polynya can sometimes contain rich stores of carbon that have been sitting at the bottom of the ocean for hundreds or even thousands of years. —Chelsea Harvey, Scientific American, 11 June 2019

Word History

Etymology

Russian polyn'ya

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for polynya

• gardenia