The opening of the Amundsen Sea Polynya in 2010–2011.
MODIS Terra images (250 m resolution; collection date below each map) show the ASP region before and during ASPIRE (A–E). Black is open water; white is either sea ice, glacial ice, or cloud cover (somewhat distinguishable by texture); coastal features as identified in Figure 1. Original MODIS images (A–E) courtesy of L. Schoeller (AGIC). Images A–E are noted by red arrows on a plot of daily open water area through time (October 1, 2010, to April 1, 2011) as determined by AMSR-E (described in Methods).