File:A Polynya in the Arctic Ocean in May 2020 (Copernicus).jpg

English: The thickest layer of sea ice in the northern hemisphere has historically been observed in the Arctic Ocean north of Ellesmere Island, Canada. This image of the same area north of Ellesmere Island, acquired by a Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite on 20 May 2020, shows the presence of an unusual stretch of open water – in this case larger than Luxembourg – known as a polynya. According to a new study published in the Geophysical Research Letters scientific journal, it was the first polynya ever observed at that time of year in the satellite era. According to the scientists that led the study, this phenomenon is another sign of rapid changes taking place in the Arctic region due to climate change. Climate change is affecting the Arctic more intensely than any other region, but the effects might also have a devastating impact on the entire northern hemisphere. The European Union has recently published a new strategy for the protection of the Arctic, aimed at tackling the impact of climate change on this fragile environment. More information regarding the new EU Arctic Strategy is available here.