Mysterious holes in the Arctic sea iceOperation Icebridge is a NASA project that flies over the icy
Mysterious holes in the Arctic sea iceOperation Icebridge is a NASA project that flies over the icy regions of the globe, both north and south obtaining radar and other data (see https://bit.ly/2HrkOz8 and https://bit.ly/2Kby88q) as well as photographing any unusual features of the ice. They have been doing this to cover during a period when no satellites are up there to return this crucial data, which allows us to monitor the fast changes affecting these rapidly warming regions of the world. Earlier this month scientists snapped these three puzzling holes in the sea ice out of the window, and are scratching their heads as to the likely cause. Each hole is surrounded by one to two ridges of radiating ice, a bit like a wonky target and surrounded by bumpy thin new ice. Possibilities include animal holes such as seals, or some sort of convection process focussing warmer water on these places, groundwater from the nearby land rising under the sea and less likely but still possible meteorite strikes. The linear ridges are most likely finger ice (see https://bit.ly/2HtFaDC).LozImage credit: NASA/John Sonntag/Operation IceBridgehttps://bit.ly/2HK5L2Ohttps://bit.ly/2JmT1Mz -- source link
#science#sea ice#arctic#icebridge