Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus, system, and method for cooling a pedestal for supporting a workpiece during plasma processing. An embodiment of a pedestal includes: a base over which the workpiece is to be disposed, a plurality of nozzles to supply a fluid from a supply plenum to impinge on a surface of the base, and a plurality of return conduits to return the supplied fluid to a return plenum. The fluid to be supplied by the plurality of nozzles can be projected as one or more jets submerged in surrounding fluid or as a spray that emerges from a surrounding fluid within a volume between the plurality of nozzles and the base to impinge on the surface of the base.