The Polynya and Ross Sea Ecosystem
After nearly five months of winter’s continual night, the first rays of sunlight reach the surface of the ocean in the Ross Sea polynya. In that massive pool of open water, with its upwelling of nutrients, a floating forest of microscopic phytoplankton blooms as the sun rises in the spring. The bloom in the Ross Sea Polynya is so large and dense that it can be seen from Space. This abundance makes its way up the food chain, and the explosion of life in the Ross Sea must be seen to be believed.
Protection Now and Into the Future
The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Living Resources, made up of 24 (now 26) countries and the EU, adopted the Ross Sea Marine Protected Area in 2016 by unanimous consensus. It is the largest marine protected area in the world, and the first large-scale international MPA. It was an historic achievement.
The MPA is in effect until 2052, at which time it must again be adopted by consensus. And so our commitment to the Ross Sea must continue, and increase.
We must do the science to study the effectiveness of the MPA and involve scientists from all over the globe. The Ross Sea is crucial for Antarctic biology today, and projections using state-of-the-art Earth system models show that it will remain a globally important ecological hotspot well into the future. It is a vital refuge for Antarctic life, especially in an increasingly warming world. It is also a model of how to protect international spaces. It’s up to us to ensure its continued protection.
