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Glite Dictionary
Weddell Sea

Weddell Sea

1 7.4
A part of the ocean near Antarctica that has large floating ice shelves
  • proper noun
: mar de Weddell
  • The Weddell Sea is known for its rich marine life.

Examples

  • Can we explore the Weddell Sea this summer?

  • The Weddell Sea is known for its vast, floating ice shelves.

  • Researchers discovered new marine species in the Weddell Sea region.

  • Strong winds can cause rapid changes in sea ice conditions in the Weddell Sea.

  • The researchers studied how climate change affects marine life in the Weddell Sea of Antarctica.

  • During the expedition, they encountered stunning ice formations in the Weddell Sea near the Antarctic Peninsula.

  • Various species of whales migrate to the Weddell Sea during the summer months, drawn by the abundance of food.

Surface Forms

Weddell Sea main

Morphology

Weddell + sea

The phrase is a toponym: 'sea' clearly signals a body of saltwater, so a learner who knows 'sea' will understand the general category. However, 'Weddell' is a proper name with no lexical meaning to derive the specific location or properties, so the full referential meaning (Southern Ocean, Antarctic context) is not predictable from the parts.

Etymology

Weddell Sea is named after the British sailor James Weddell, who in 1823 sailed far south into a very icy part of the ocean. Because of his trip, that area of the 'Southern Ocean' was named for him, so today Weddell Sea means that particular region of Antarctic waters.