Unprecedented Open‐Ocean Polynya in Breid Bay, East Antarctica in Winter 2024
We document an unprecedented winter open‐ocean polynya in the Breid Bay, on 4 August 2024, attaining a maximum area of 89,121 km2. Prior to opening, sea‐ice concentration declined from ∼96% in early July to below 25% by 30 July 2024, indicating substantial preconditioning of the winter ice cover. The polynya formation...