Meaning of polyna | Babel Free

Definitions

Noun. [B1]

Examples

“From Fig. 1 we see⟳ that several long N-S leads developed on or about the llth of March⟳ and large scale movements were observed in the polyna just NW of Alaska. This pattern remained relatively constant, with considerable movement in the polyna, until 19 March⟳ when several more long N-S leads developed.”

“In addition, a number⟳ of smaller areas of the Arctic remain⟳ relatively ice-free during a portion of the winter. These ice-free areas or polynas are generally associated with deep ocean currents, wind currents, unique coastline configurations, and/or freshwater drainages.”

“Polynas play⟳ an important role in heat transfer⟳ from the oceans to the atmosphere, ice production, the formation of dense shelf water, spring⟳ disintegration of sea ice, phytoplankton and zooplankton production, and the distribution of higher trophic animals such as cephalopods, fish⟳, birds, seals, and cetaceans. Within polynas, the oceanic heat loss may be 10–100 times above that of the ice-covered surface.”

“Researchers now plan⟳ to compare⟳ their routes with satellite images and see⟳ whether the owls stayed around the polynas, where snowy owls have⟳ been seen, picking off eiders swimming in the open⟳ water.”

CEFR level