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
Baltic Sea
In the Baltic Sea along Northern Bay of Bothnia, thin ice in the inner archipelago and in places thin drifting shuga. In the Southern Bay of Bothnia and the Quark, in places thin ice in the inner archipelago.
Barents Sea
In the Barents Sea there has been an increase in ice growth extent since last week. Air temperatures range from 02°C to -14°C over the area, causing rapid thickening of the sea ice. Significant growth of new and young sea ice has occurred around Franz Josef Land and Svalbard. Isolated pockets of sea ice have developed along the western coast of Novaya Zemlya.
Bering Sea
Along the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Bering Sea, fast ice formation continues in sheltered embayment's. Air temperatures over the Bering Sea, ranging from -10°C to -20°C, support the development of new and young sea ice along both the Alaskan and Russian coastlines. Sea ice formation was observed around St. Lawrence Island this week.
Canada East
Eureka Sound comprises variable proportions of multi-year, second-year and first-year fast ice. New and young ice are present in low concentrations near Baffin Bay. A lower proportion of second-year ice is present in the eastern section. Western Baffin Bay comprises young and first-year ice with a trace of old ice. A mixture of multi-year, second-year, first-year and young ice is present in the Bay’s extreme northwestern section. Eastern Baffin Bay contains bergy water. New and young ice continue to form along the western coast of Greenland. Northern Foxe Basin comprises new and young ice. Southern Foxe Basin is open water with new and young ice along the coasts. Davis Strait contains bergy water. Frobisher Bay contains bergy water with some new ice development near Iqaluit. Labrador Sea is bergy water.
Canada North
The Arctic Ocean contains mainly multi-year ice with some second-year and first-year ice present. Nares Strait contains a mix of multi-year, second-year and first-year ice. New and young ice are developing in southern Nares Straight. Jones Sound contains mostly first-year ice with lesser amounts of multi-year and second-year ice. Lancaster Sound contains a mix of young and first year ice with a trace of old ice. The Gulf of Boothia, Prince-Regent Inlet and Committee Bay consist of new, young and first- year ice. Cumberland Sound contains bergy water.
Canada West
The Queen Elizabeth Islands comprise multi-year, second-year, and first-year ice. The ice is fasted among the Sverdrup Islands as well as around Melville, MacKenzie and Prince Patrick Islands. Ice remains mobile in Byam Martin Channel. M’Clure Strait and western Viscount Melville Sound contain predominantly multi-year ice with some second-year and first-year ice. Eastern Viscount Melville Sound, Barrow Strait and M’Clintock Channel contain a mix of younger and first-year ice with trace amounts of multi-year and second-year ice. Larsen Sound, Rasmussen Sound and Rae Strait have mostly young ice with some thin first- year ice. Young ice continues to develop in Victoria Strait, Queen Maud Gulf and Coronation Gulf. Amundsen Gulf is now predominantly grey-white ice and thin first-year. Canada Basin is filled with mostly multi-year ice with some first-year ice. There is young ice and thin first-year ice along the coasts of Alaska, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.
Chukchi Sea
Significant sea ice growth was observed in the Chukchi Sea over the past week, and as a result, much of the sea is now ice covered. Pack ice drift was mostly to the northwest.
Cook Inlet
New and young sea ice continues to form in the northern portion of the Cook Inlet with air temperatures as cold as -12°C.
East Siberian Sea
Sea ice drift in the East Siberian Sea was mostly insignificant over the past week, with ice shifting slightly east in the southern region, and slightly west in the northern region. The eastward drift allowed for small polynyas to form adjacent to the fast ice edge, which quickly filled with new and young ice.
Greenland Sea
Sea ice drift in the Greenland Sea was generally slow over the past week, allowing for southward expansion of the ice edge. Isolated instances of diurnal sea ice are beginning to be observed in the southern region.
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
Northern Hudson Bay is predominantly ice-free, except along the western coastline and the shores of Southampton Island, where new and young ice are forming along their full extent. Along the eastern coastline and the shores of Coats and Mansel Island there is some new ice development. Southern Hudson Bay is largely ice-free, with areas of new and young ice developing along the western coast James Bay is mostly open water, with new and young ice forming along the western and southern coasts. Hudson Strait contains bergy water with some small areas of new ice development along the coast and in the western section. Ungava Bay is bergy water with some new ice development along the west and south coast. Lake Melville is open water.
Kara Sea
Significant expansion of the fast ice in the Gulf of Ob and along Novaya Zemlya occurred over the last week. First-year ice continues to thicken, especially in the eastern Kara Sea where temperatures were as low as -32°C.
Laptev Sea
The fast ice in the Laptev Sea continues to slowly expand in size. The pack ice stayed mostly stagnant over the past week.
Sea of Japan
Ice continues to thicken within the Tarter Strait.
Sea of Okhotsk
Western Sea of Okhotsk, temperatures range from -8°C to -14°C, conducive to the formation of new and young sea ice along the shoreline. First-year ice is also developing in sheltered bays. Within the Shelikhov Gulf, air temperatures fluctuate between -4°C and -20°C, facilitating typical sea ice growth.
White Sea
Over the last week, warmer temperatures resulted in some melt of the ice in the White Sea. Ice remains in sheltered bays and inlets, but in lower concentrations than last week.
