Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:47pm on 21 Sep 2026,Monday Science
Indian scientists and collaborators have reconstructed a 250-year history of Antarctica’s Maud Rise Polynya, tracing its activity back to 1774. Led by researchers from the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the study used a 122-metre ice core drilled at Djupranen Ice Rise in East Antarctica. Analysing snow and chemical layers, researchers identified 25 years with evidence of polynya activity, including three major events comparable to the 1974-76 opening, which exceeded 300,000 square kilometres. Findings show that openings occurred in clusters rather than regularly, suggesting atmospheric and ocean conditions combine to trigger them. The study may improve understanding of Antarctica’s climate and ocean circulation. (PC: X)
