1) Arctic geography terminology 2) Body of water 3) Earth phenomena 4) Polar region of the Earth 
A polynya (common US spelling) or polynia (common UK spelling) ə is an area of open water surrounded by sea ice. It is now used as geographical term for an area of unfrozen sea within the ice pack. It is a loanword from полынья (polynya) pəlɨˈnʲja, which refers to a natural ice hole, and was adopted in the 19th century by polar explore...
a semipermanent area of open water in sea ice. Polynyas are generally believed to be of two types. Coastal polynyas characteristically lie just ... [2 related articles]
Area of open water surrounded by sea ice.
irregularly shaped areas of persistent open water that are sustained by winds or ocean heat; they often occur near coasts, fast ice, or ice shelves. Satellite view of polynyas (dark areas) near Oates Coast, Antarctica (solid white area at bottom of photo). (Photo courtesy of NASA.)
acronym: Wind or current driven opening in winter sea-ice
noun a stretch of open water surrounded by ice (especially in Arctic seas)
Area of open water surrounded by sea ice.