A mysterious hole larger than Maryland has reappeared in the middle of Antarctica after 42 years. Scientists aren't sure how it got there.
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A mysterious 'hole' larger than Maryland has reappeared in Antarctica after 42 years
A giant hole in Antarctica called the Weddell polynya is now open for business, so to speak.
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This isn't the first time it's appeared.
The hole is a type of polynya. Polynyas are regions of open water surrounded by sea ice. But the Weddell Polynya is unlike any other.
While most polynyas form near the shore, this polynya is hundreds of kilometers from the coast.
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Scientists first saw it in 1974. Back then, the opening was as large as Oregon. But in 1976, the opening closed up seemingly for good.
Then, in 2016, a NASA satellite spotted a small opening. It was the first sighting of the polynya in over 40 years.
Since then, the opening has grown considerably larger. Now, it's large enough to fit Maryland. It's still five times as small as it was in the '70s. But this polynya's reappearance is a mystery to scientists.
One expert said it was like someone had punched a hole in the ice. Many questions remain.
Did it exist before the '70s? Will it close up again for another 40 years? Is climate change the cause?
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Scientists are collecting as much data as they can. Perhaps we'll have the answers before the hole fills in again.
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