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'Atmospheric rivers' helped open a Portugal-sized hole in Antarctica's winter sea ice

Attributed to Phys.org. ENC is not independently verifying these facts.

'Atmospheric rivers' helped open a Portugal-sized hole in Antarctica's winter sea ice

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Claim states describe the source record, not independently verified truth. Green and cyan never mean “confirmed.”

Phys.org reports the following. ENC is republishing it as an attributed briefing, not as independently confirmed fact. If this item is false or incomplete, the responsibility sits with Phys.org, which released it. Polynyas are patches of open water surrounded by sea ice, where heat and moisture can pass freely between the ocean and atmosphere. In August 2024, a vast polynya opened up in Breid Bay, off the coast of East Antarctica, in the depths of winter. The region had stayed ice-covered at this time of year ever since satellite records began in 1979. Original link: https://phys.org/news/2026-10-atmospheric-rivers-portugal-sized-hole.html

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