Arctic Regional Synopsis
Regional charts and associated synopsis write-up capture ice and environmental conditions throughout the Arctic which are based on the U.S. National Ice Center’s weekly analysis. Charts and synopses are updated weekly on Fridays. Note: Baltic Sea analysis is provided by the Finnish Meteorological Institute. The Canadian Archipelago (Canada East, Canada North, Canada West, and Hudson Bay) analysis is provided by the Canadian Ice Service.
Regional Quick Access
Barents Sea
The ice edge in the western Barents Sea has shifted northward approximately 18 nautical miles since last week. New ice continues to be present as air temperatures in the region hover around freezing.
Bering Sea
As colder temperatures persist in the northern Bering Sea, ice has begun to form in the Gulf of Anadyr.
Canada East
The Nansen Sound ice bridge, consisting of second-year ice with a trace of multi-year ice, is consolidated in the mouth of the Sound. Mostly grey-white ice with some second-year ice as well as a trace of multi-year ice covers the remainder of Nansen Sound and western Greely Fiord. The remainder of the fiord now has new and young ice. Norwegian Bay contains young ice with some second-year ice and a trace of multi-year ice. Young ice continues to develop between the trace of multi-year ice in Massey Sound and south of Ellef Ringnes Island. Hassel Sound contains multi-year and second-year ice as well as young ice. Penny Strait contains mostly multi-year ice with some second-year ice. Queen’s Channel contains multi-year ice with some second-year ice with new and young ice mainly in the east. Some multi-year ice and second-year ice is present in extreme northwestern Baffin Bay, Jones Sound and Barrow Strait. Lancaster Sound has new and young ice developing with some multiyear at the east end. Otherwise, Baffin Bay, Pond Inlet, Navy Board Inlet, and Admiralty Inlet are all bergy water. There is a small amount of developing new ice in Gulf of Boothia, mostly along the eastern side. Fury and Hecla Strait contain a small amount of new ice and trace of second-year ice. A small amount of second-year ice and developing new ice remains in extreme northern Foxe Basin. Southern Foxe Basin is ice-free. Davis Strait and Cumberland Sound are bergy water.
Canada North
The Arctic Ocean is composed mainly of multi-year ice, with some second-year ice present. Nares Strait contains mostly multi-year ice with some second-year ice present with some young ice. Some multi-year ice and second-year ice is present in extreme northwestern Baffin Bay, Jones Sound and Barrow Strait. Davis Strait and Cumberland Sound are bergy water.
Canada West
The Queen Elizabeth Islands (QEI) contain multi-year and second-year ice. A substantial amount of young ice is still forming. M’Clure Strait and western Viscount Melville Sound contain predominantly multi-year ice with some second-year ice. Eastern Viscount Melville Sound and Barrow Strait contain mostly new and young ice with smaller amounts of multi-year and second-year ice. Small amounts of multi-year and second-year ice are present in M’Clintock Channel. New ice is now forming in most of the channel except not around Collinson Peninsula. Bergy water is present along the Alaskan coast to Rasmussen Bassin and then north to Peel Sound. Beaufort Sea has mostly multi-year, second-year, and young ice. Northeastern Canada Basin is mostly multi-year ice.
Chukchi Sea
In the Chukchi Sea, protected and sheltered bays along the Alaskan coast have developed ice in low concentrations. New and young ice continues to form along the ice edge, with additional ice drifting southward. Both the extent and concentration of new and young ice have increased.
East Siberian Sea
In the East Siberian Sea, areas along the Russian coast are beginning to experience growth of new and young ice. Pack ice continues to advance southward toward the Russian coastline. The New Siberian Islands are also experiencing the formation of new and young ice within their protected and shallow bays and inlets.
Greenland Sea
While sea ice drift remained minimal in the Greenland Sea this week, persistent frigid temperatures in the region have led to significant formation of new and young ice farther south along the coast.
High Arctic
No synopsis write-up for the High Arctic as it remains consistent throughout this part of the year. A synopsis write-up will begin during summer months as ice retreats and becomes more dynamic in the region.
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay is ice-free James Bay is ice-free. Southern Foxe Basin is ice-free. Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay contain bergy water. Frobisher Bay contains bergy water. The Labrador Sea is bergy water. Lake Melville is ice-free.
Kara Sea
New ice has formed along the Gulf of Ob in the Kara Sea, as sea surface temperatures are just below freezing. Icebergs continue to be present in Severnaya Zemlya.
Laptev Sea
In the Laptev Sea, melting has been observed since the previous week near the New October Revolution Islands and along the boundary with the Barents and Kara Seas. Pack ice has grown southward toward the Russian coastline. Along the Russian coast, new and young ice continues to form.
