ScienceAugust 29, 2026

floe

FLOH

Definition

A large, flat mass of floating sea ice.

Etymology

Derived from the Old Norse word 'fló', meaning a layer or a flat mass, the term entered English to describe the shifting, plate-like structures of ice found in polar regions.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the ice surface that killer whales attempt to wash seals off of, and where those seals seek safety after being rescued by humpback whales.

Humpback whales have been seen helping seals, sea lions and even sunfish escape orca attacks — intervening in hunts involving animals from entirely different species for reasons researchers still cannot fully explain

Read the full article ↗

ScienceBlog.com

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