Scientists split about the huge gap that appeared in Antarctica

A gap of about 40,000 square kilometers, formed in the middle of Antarctica, in the winter of Australia (from July to August), is attracting the attention of many scientists and experts on research. climate in the world. The opinion of the scientific community is quite divided on this phenomenon, once known in 1974.

This circular hole is at least 40,000 square kilometers (equivalent to Switzerland or equal to one-eighth of Vietnam's total area), even some news agencies believe that this hole has an area of ​​up to 80,000 square kilometers. , was discovered last month by satellite images. According to the Swiss daily newspaper Le Temps, the hole is located in the Weddell Sea , northwestern Antarctica.

Huge gap.

While some research institutes directly linked this phenomenon to global warming, climate expert Heinz Wanner, founder of the Oeschger Climate Change Research Center in Berne (Switzerland), affirmed. , "for the climate research industry, such causal connections are difficult to identify." The scientist also argues that more research is needed to confirm the link between this phenomenon in Antarctica and global warming.

For many scientists, this flaw called 'polynie' (in French) is an ice area or a very thin ice layer between the large ice mass. The cause of this hole has not been clearly explained, possibly due to the impact of ocean currents, strong wind pressure or the thickness of the ice. According to the founder of the Oeschger Center for Climate Change Research, "in the case of the Weddell Sea hole , this is definitely the melting of the ice mainly due to the increase in hot water under the ice. A sea current. Saving upwards movement has melted the ice from below. "

Scientists used to know the 'polynie' phenomenon but rarely did it reach such a large scale, especially offshore. A similar phenomenon was known to occur in 1974, also in this area. The gap was 300,000 square kilometers, disappeared 40 years later, before it reappeared last year for a few weeks, then returned again this year, significantly larger than the loss. vulnerability appeared last year.

According to scientists who are studying this phenomenon, it is still too early to attribute this phenomenon to global warming. On the contrary, melting ice definitely affects the temperature of the water and therefore, at least affects the climate in that area. In any case, the relationship between 'polynie' and climate change is still the focus of debates about this phenomenon, both in the scientific world and on social networks.