Baffin Bay

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/baffin-bay

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the location?Between Baffin Island, Canada, and the west coast of Greenland
2. What is the northern connection?Linked to the central Arctic Ocean through the Nares Strait
3. Why is Baffin Bay called a marginal sea?Baffin Bay is called a marginal sea because it is part of the Arctic Ocean but also connects to the Atlantic Ocean through Davis Strait and to the Labrador Sea. This makes it a special transition zone between cold Arctic water and slightly warmer Atlantic water.
4. How does the North Water polynya form?The North Water, a big open patch of water in Baffin Bay, forms each year because strong currents and wind keep the ice from forming or break up ice that does form. This creates a polynya that stays open for months.

Marginal Sea: A subdivision of an ocean partially enclosed by landmasses, islands, or peninsulas, exhibiting distinct characteristics.
Polynya: A persistent area of open water within sea ice, vital for Arctic marine ecosystems due to concentrated biological activity.
Hydrographic: Relating to the measurement and description of the physical features of oceans, seas, and coastlines.