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
Temperatures in the southern Barents Sea remain above freezing, while conditions around Franz Josef Land hover near 0°C. These relatively mild values are helping preserve the existing sea ice, though large polynyas have opened within the pack. Only minimal ice remains west of Novaya Zemlya.
Bering Sea
Ice coverage continued to gradually decrease in the Bering Sea over the last week, as temperatures were above freezing throughout most of the region. Polynyas have expanded and will remain open. A large area of open sea is west of St. Lawrence Island.
Canada East
The ice along the Labrador coast is first-year ice with a trace of old ice. The Labrador Sea is bergy water. Frobisher Bay and Cumberland Sound contain mostly first-year ice with some young ice and trace old ice. Small areas of bergy water have opened along shorelines.
Canada North
The Arctic Ocean is predominantly covered by old ice, with some first-year ice present along the northern Elizabeth Islands. Eureka Sound and Jones Sound are characterized by fast ice composed mainly of first-year ice, along with some old ice. Nares Strait contains fastened old and first-year ice. South of this fast ice, in Smith Sound, there is a mixture of first-year, young, and new ice and large areas of bergy water have opened. Lancaster Sound features a mix of young ice with some first-year ice in the western section. The eastern section is a mix of close pack young and first-year ice including a trace of old ice. Baffin Bay is largely covered by first-year ice, with some old ice present. Along the coast of Greenland, ice conditions consist mainly of first-year ice. Davis Strait also contains mostly first-year ice, with some old ice. The Gulf of Boothia is covered by first-year ice, while Prince Regent Inlet is primarily fast first-year ice with a trace of old ice. A small amount of old ice is also present in the northern Gulf of Boothia and southern Prince Regent Inlet, where the ice remains mobile.
Canada West
The areas surrounding the Queen Elizabeth Islands are a mix of fast old ice and first-year ice. M’Clure Strait contains predominantly fast old ice, first-year ice and some young ice at the western extent. Barrow Strait, M’Clintock Channel and Peel Sound are fast first-year ice with a trace of old ice. Amundsen Gulf, Coronation Gulf and Queen Maud Gulf are fast first-year ice, with an area of new and young ice west of Sachs Harbour. Canada Basin is primarily old ice with some first-year ice present. There is some young ice west of Prince Patrick Island. The Beaufort Sea is first-year ice and old ice. There is new and young ice in the southern section.
Chukchi Sea
The Bering Strait is showing new openings as the current pushes poleward. Melted areas now extend up to 70?NM northward. Along the west coast of Alaska, a large open water area has formed about 10?NM offshore.
East Siberian Sea
The East Siberian Sea is beginning to show more frequent and widening openings along the fast ice edge, and the fast ice has receded slightly, signaling the early onset of coastal ice weakening.
Greenland Sea
Air temperatures in the northern and central Greenland Sea have increased to the range of 2°C-6°C, leading to increased deterioration of the ice edge and parts of the pack ice.
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
James Bay contains mobile first-year ice. Hudson Bay comprises first-year ice with some new and young ice near its northwestern shore. Large areas of open water are present along the shores of Southampton Island, along the coast near Rankin Inlet, and in the northeast of Hudson Bay. Hudson Strait contains first-year ice with some areas of bergy water. Ungava Bay comprises mostly first-year ice with some young ice in the southern section.
Kara Sea
Temperatures in the Kara Sea remain between –4 and 0°C, driving steady deterioration of sea ice across the region. A southwestward ice drift is opening new leads and polynyas along the fast-ice boundary. A notable lead has formed east of Novaya Zemlya, while the southern Kara Sea continues gradual melt as temperatures rise.
Laptev Sea
The Laptev Sea is beginning to show early signs of spring and summer melt. The fast ice is starting to recede slightly, indicating the first stages of seasonal breakup. In addition, several openings near the fast ice have expanded over the past few days, suggesting continued weakening of the pack ice.
Sea of Japan
Large portions of fast ice have broken free in the Tatar Strait, and the ice edge has receded several miles as temperatures ranged between 4°C and 8°C.
Sea of Okhotsk
Air temperatures over the Sea of Okhotsk have risen to 4?°C, reaching 8?°C in some coastal areas. These warm temperatures, combined with elevated sea surface temperatures, is driving rapid deterioration of the sea ice. The ice edge in the Sakhalin Gulf has retreated another 30?NM, and a large polynya has now opened within the ice pack.
