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
While the Barents Sea ice edge initially receded, it has since returned to approximately the previous week's extent, composed primarily of new and young ice.
Canada East
The Nansen Sound ice bridge, consisting of first-year ice with a trace of old ice, has consolidated in the mouth of the Sound. Mostly grey-white ice with some first-year ice as well as a trace of old 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 new and young ice with some first-year ice and a trace of old ice. New ice and young ice continue to develop between the trace of old ice in Massey Sound and south of Ellef Ringnes Island. Hassel Sound contains small amounts of old and first-year ice within new ice and young ice. Penny Strait contains mostly old ice with some first-year ice in open drift conditions. Queen’s Channel contains mostly old ice with some first-year ice and lesser amounts of new and young ice. Davis Strait and Cumberland Sound are bergy water. Frobisher Bay contains bergy water. The Labrador Sea is bergy water.
Canada North
The Arctic Ocean is composed mainly of old ice, with some first-year ice present. Nares Strait contains mostly old ice with some first-year ice present with young and new ice. Some old ice is present in extreme northwestern Baffin Bay, Jones Sound and Barrow Strait. Otherwise, Baffin Bay, Pond Inlet, Navy Board Inlet, Lancaster Sound, Admiralty Inlet, and Gulf of Boothia are all bergy water. There is a small amount of first-year ice in Gulf of Boothia and Committee Bay, mostly along the eastern side. Fury and Hecla Strait contain first-year ice and new ice starting to develop.
Canada West
The Queen Elizabeth Islands (QEI) comprise old ice and first-year ice with pervasive new and young ice development. Fast ice containing old ice and first-year ice lines the northern coasts of the islands in the northwest section of the QEI. M’Clure Strait and western Barrow Strait contain predominantly old ice with some first-year ice. There is rapid new ice development between flows throughout this region. Eastern Barrow Strait contains mostly bergy water. The northern section of M’Clintock Channel contains predominantly old ice with some first-year ice. South of Steffansson Island the ice pack contains first-year ice with a trace of old ice and some new ice. Amundsen Gulf, Coronation Gulf, Queen Maud Gulf, and Peel Sound are bergy water. The ice in the Beaufort Sea is mostly old ice with some first-year ice. There is new ice development along ice pack margins north of 73°N. Canada Basin is mostly old ice with some first year. New and young ice are developing along ice pack margins west of 130°W.
Chukchi Sea
In the Chukchi Sea the sea ice that has survived the summer melt has graduated to old ice this week. New and young ice continues to fill in any of the remaining leads and openings in the pack ice. New and young ice continue to grow in thickness and expand in extent along the ice edge. New and young ice has begun to develop in the central part of the Chukchi Sea ~ 65 NM northwest of Point Barrow, AK. Sea ice drift in the region was northwestward. Air temperatures outside of ice covered waters are -02°C and warmer preventing new ice growth from the central Chukchi Sea southward to the Bering Strait.
East Siberian Sea
This week marks the Arctic ice birthday. This is when first year ice that has survived summers melt is reclassified as old ice. In the East Siberian Sea new and young sea ice continues to form along the ice edge and expand southward of the high Arctic pack ice. New and young sea has started growing in the river deltas along the Siberian Coast. In the New Siberian Islands various protected bays continue to form new and young ice that started the previous week.
Greenland Sea
This week marks the Arctic ice birthday. This is when first year ice that has survived summers melt is reclassified as old ice. In the northern Greenland many of the fjords have become fasted. New ice in low concentrations has begun to form deep within Scoresby Sound. Freezing air temperatures remain over land in the center south and western portions of Greenland and remain sea ice free.
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. Lake Melville is ice-free. A small amount of first-year ice remains in northwestern Foxe Basin. Southern Foxe Basin is ice-free.
Kara Sea
In the Kara Sea air temperatures have decreased, new ice began forming along the Russian coastline and in river outlets. Isolated icebergs remain within the islands of Severnaya Zemlya.
Laptev Sea
This week marks the Arctic ice birthday. This is when first year ice that has survived summers melt is reclassified as old ice. In the Laptev Sea new and young sea ice continues to form along the ice edge and expand southward under the influence of freezing air temperatures, meanwhile the high Arctic pack ice is drifting northward. There are several location along the Russian coast where new and young sea ice forming. The Khatanga Gulf has sea ice concentrations of 80% and is composed of new and young ice. The October Revolution Islands have a lower concentrations of sea ice at this time and air temperatures below the freezing point of sea ice that new and young ice is starting to form in the openings around the old ice that is present.
