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To humans, the frigid Arctic and Antarctic waters surrounding the North and South Poles seem like hostile habitats. But beneath their frozen surfaces, polar seas harbor a wide range of species-from algae to whales-that thrive in these ice-cold ecosystems. A constant mixing of chilled surface water and warm bottom water spreads nutrients throughout these oceans. This churning motion is also linked to Earth's climate. If polar waters stop circulating and their temperatures change, we will feel the effects around the world.
 | A pair of orcas approaches the edge of the sea ice in McMurdo Sound. © Norbert Wu / www.norbertwu.com |
Tucked between Ross Island and the Antarctic Continent, this bay ends at the Ross Ice Shelf, which is roughly the size of France. The interface between sea and ice teems with floating plankton, including krill that attract larger animals to the ice edge.
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