noun
- an area of open water surrounded by sea ice
Usage: oceanography; Arctic terminology
Examples
- The ship navigated carefully through the polynya to avoid getting trapped in ice.
- Seals often surface to breathe in polynyas during winter.
- Scientists studied the marine life thriving in the large polynya.
- The polynya remained open despite the freezing temperatures.
- Arctic explorers relied on polynyas as sources of fresh water.
- Satellite images revealed several polynyas in the ice pack.