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
The ice in the Bay of Bothnia is drifting slowly to south. In the northern Bay of Bothnia 35-55 cm thick fast ice to Kemi 3 and Oulu 3. Farther out 15-45 cm thick ridged very close ice and thin rafted ice to 9 nautical miles south of Kemi 1 and to Holma. Brash ice at the ice edge. Farther south thin drift ice with varying concentration and new ice to west of Nahkiainen. In the southern Bay of Bothnia 10-30 cm thick fast ice in the archipelago. Farther out thin drift ice with varying concentration and new ice. In the Quark new ice and thin drift ice. In the Vaasa archipelago, 20-35 cm thick fast ice to Ensten. Farther out new ice to west of Vaasa lighthouse. In the Sea of Bothnia in the inner archipelago 5-15 cm thick fast ice and thin ice. Farther out new-ice formation locally. In the eastern Gulf of Finland thin ice in the inner archipelago and new ice in places.
Barents Sea
Fast ice continues to develop around Franz Josef Land. The ice edge has extended by more than 50 NM south of Franz Josef Land. The ice edge has compressed north of Svalbard. Sea ice along the western coast of Novaya Zemlya has retreated into the shore.
Bering Sea
The ice edge receded throughout both the Bering Sea and in the Kamchatka region. Multiple polynyas have opened along the coast throughout Kamchatka and in the West Bering Sea. Fasted ice is still present in the sheltered bays.
Canada East
The Gulf of Boothia contains first-year ice with some young ice along the fast ice edge in Committee Bay and Creswell Bay. Jones Sound contains fast first-year ice that also contains some old ice in the fast ice east of Grise Fiord. At the mouth of the sound, there is mobile pack of young ice. Baffin Bay is predominantly first-year ice with some old ice in the western section and a mix of first-year ice and young ice closer to the Greenland coast. Davis Strait is predominantly first-year ice with a trace of old ice extending south of Cumberland Sound. The ice bridge remains in Nares Strait (from Archer Fiord to Kane Basin) and contains predominantly old ice with some first-year ice. South of the ice bridge, there is a pack of mobile young ice, followed by a mix of first-year ice and young ice further south. Canada Basin is predominantly old ice with some first-year ice. Along the northwest coastline of Ellesmere Island, there is a pack of predominantly first-year ice with a trace of old ice. The ice throughout Greely Fiord and Eureka Sound contains fast first-year ice. Nansen Sound contains fast first-year ice with a trace of old ice. Labrador Sea contains predominantly first-year ice and a trace of old ice in the northern section. Labrador Coast is mostly young ice and new ice with some first-year ice. Frobisher Bay is predominantly young ice with some first-year ice. Lake Melville is first-year fast ice.
Canada North
Baffin Bay is predominantly first-year ice with some old ice in the western section and a mix of first-year ice and young ice closer to the Greenland coast. The Gulf of Boothia contains first-year ice with some young ice along the fast ice edge in Committee Bay and Creswell Bay. The back of Cumberland Sound contains predominantly young ice with some first-year ice, while the pack exiting the sound contains predominantly first-year ice with some young ice. Lancaster Sound is predominantly first-year ice with some young ice. The ice bridge remains in Nares Strait (from Archer Fiord to Kane Basin) and contains predominantly old ice with some first-year ice. South of the ice bridge, there is a pack of mobile young ice, followed by a mix of first-year ice and young ice further south. Canada Basin is predominantly old ice with some first-year ice. Along the northwest coastline of Ellesmere Island, there is a pack of predominantly first-year ice with a trace of old ice. The ice throughout Greely Fiord and Eureka Sound contains fast first-year ice. Nansen Sound contains fast first-year ice with a trace of old ice. Jones Sound contains fast first-year ice that also contains some old ice in the fast ice east of Grise Fiord. At the mouth of the sound, there is mobile pack of young ice.
Canada West
Lancaster Sound is predominantly first-year ice with some young ice. The ice in the Queen Elizabeth Islands is fast with mostly old ice and some first-year ice, with some mobile ice remaining along the northern sections. M’Clure Strait contains mostly old ice in the west which transitions to first-year ice towards the east. Barrow Strait contains fast first-year ice with a trace of old ice. M’Clintock Channel, Peel Sound, Queen Maud Gulf, and Coronation Gulf contain fast first-year ice. Victoria Strait contains mostly fast ice with a minor region of mobile first-year ice. Amundsen Gulf is predominantly first-year ice with young ice development along the coasts of Banks Island and Victoria Island. Beaufort Sea contains first-year ice transitioning northwards to a mix of old ice. There is mostly old ice in the Canada Basin.
Chukchi Sea
In the Chukchi Sea, sea ice drift is generally eastward over the past week. Air temperatures range from -04°C over the Bering Strait to -30°C over the northern Chukchi Sea. Sea ice thickness growth is normal to accelerated in the coldest temperatures.
Cook Inlet
The Cook Inlet is primarily composed of new and young ice. As temperature of -02°C to -08°C have been observed and not conducive to normal ice thickness growth.
East Siberian Sea
The polynyas that formed last week to the SE of Novaya Sibir, pushed out another 40NM this week. With the pockets of multiyear ice pushing north towards the High Arctic and the pocket of multi year ice continuing SE toward the Chukchi Sea.
Greenland Sea
Ice to the north of Greenland has drifted approximately 35 NM to the east over the last week. East of Greenland, ice has moved away from the coast, up to 45 NM in some areas. Due to a weather system over the past week, there was significant break up of the fast ice along eastern Greenland, with several large polynyas forming in areas that were previously fasted.
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 first-year ice. Young ice and new ice is developing where the ice pack moved away from the coast in the western section. James Bay contains first-year ice with young ice and new ice developing along the west coast where the ice pack moved away from the coast. Ungava Bay is predominantly first-year ice with young ice and new ice developing along the west coast. Foxe Basin is predominantly first-year ice with areas of young ice along the northern and western coasts and around Prince Charles Island. Hudson Strait is predominantly first-year ice with some young ice.
Kara Sea
A weather system early in the week caused a perturbation in the pack ice composition of the Kara Sea. Polynyas have formed along the eastern coast of Novaya Zemlya and in the southern portion of the sea.
Laptev Sea
In the Laptev Sea, air temperatures range from -20°C to -28°C, promoting accelerated sea ice thickening under these frigid conditions.
Sea of Japan
In the Sea of Japan, certain areas have experienced recession due to the passage of a low-pressure system. Fast ice remains in the Tatar Strait, while new and young ice continue to expand along all ice edges, particularly along the eastern coast of Sakhalin.
Sea of Okhotsk
In the Sea of Okhotsk, the ice edge has retreated due to the passage of a weather system, while coastal sea ice continues to thicken.
White Sea
First year and young ice remain persistent throughout the sea. Rising temperatures have led to a retreat of the ice edge near the Kola Peninsula.
Yellow Sea
The growth of both of new and young ice continues in the Yellow Sea. Ice continues to persist in protected and sheltered bays.
