We know we’ve been messing up with nature since long and we’ve seen the results too. And as this interference is increasing, earth has started giving signs of some bigger incidents ahead.
The massive hole is said to be the size of Lake Superior and has appeared many miles inland from where the ice meets the ocean. But the fact that is weirder is scientists have practically no explanation of its existence.
As per reports, the hole called polynya hasn’t appeared for the first time. It was seen last year too for a short interval and before that in 1970’s at the same place. The behaviour of the hole has left the scientists puzzled who are looking for the clues now.
The current best guess is that warmer salt water from deep under the ice has managed to squeeze its way through the cold layer of fresh water that typically insulates it, causing a warm patch and ultimately melting the ice and forming a huge gap. That’s a fairly straightforward explanation, but it doesn’t fully address the odd timing of the hole, including its 40-year absence and seemingly spontaneous rebirth.
Talking about the same Prof. Dr. Mojib Latif, head of the Research Division GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel said-
“The Southern Ocean is strongly stratified. A very cold but relatively fresh water layer covers a much warmer and saltier water mass, thus acting as an insulating layer.”
Sometimes, the layer of warm water can then melt the ice. He added-
“This is like opening a pressure relief valve—the ocean then releases a surplus of heat to the atmosphere for several consecutive winters until the heat reservoir is exhausted.”
What do you have to say about it?