cryoplankton

/ˌkrɪoʊˈplæŋktən/

Definitions

1. noun

A type of plankton that remains frozen and intact in ice, often used in paleoclimatology to reconstruct past ocean temperatures and circulation patterns.

“Scientists studied the cryoplankton found in a glacier to gain insights into the Earth’s climate 10,000 years ago.”

Synonyms

  • fossilized plankton
  • ice-dwelling plankton

Antonyms

  • surface-dwelling plankton
  • thawed plankton