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 southern Barents Sea is mostly ice free, with low concentrations remaining just south of the Kara Gates. Concentrations continue to diminish around Franz Josef Land and Svalbard.
Bering Sea
Rising air temperatures between +04°C and +10°C are leading to significant melting and retreat of pack ice in the Bering Strait, with ice now receding nearly 40 nautical miles north of Saint Lawrence Island and about 170 nautical miles to the southwest. In contrast, ice remains intact in the Gulf of Anadyr, Norton Sound, and Bristol Bay. The only remaining ice along the Kamchatka Peninsula is found in the Karaginsky Gulf.
Canada East
The Arctic Ocean consists of old ice, with some first-year ice present along the northern Elizabeth Islands. The ice in central Nares Strait which is old and first-year ice in roughly equal proportion, has become mobile. To the north and south of this area, the ice remains fast. South of the fast ice, in Smith Sound, there is a mixture of first-year and old ice in open drift conditions. Eureka Sound and Jones Sound contain mainly first-year ice with some with some old ice. Both areas remain fast. Lancaster Sound contains mobile first-year ice with a trace of old ice. Prince Regent Inlet contains mostly first-year ice with a trace of old ice. An ice-bridge spans the Inlet which contains otherwise mobile ice. The Gulf of Boothia contains mobile first-year ice. Eastern Baffin Bay consists of first-year ice with a trace of old ice in open drift conditions and contains large zones of bergy water. Western Baffin Bay is marked by first-year ice with some old ice in very close pack conditions. Davis Strait contains mostly first-year ice with some old ice. The ice remaining along the North Labrador Coast is first-year ice with a trace of old ice. The Labrador Sea is bergy water. Frobisher Bay contains mainly bergy water with first-year and old ice in its entrance. Cumberland Sound contains mostly first-year ice with a trace of old ice in very open drift conditions. Northern coastal Greenland consists of fast first-year ice with adjacent mobile ice of the same type in very close pack conditions. Southern coastal Greenland consists of some remaining fast first-year ice and bergy water offshore.
Canada North
The Arctic Ocean consists of old ice, with some first-year ice present along the northern Elizabeth Islands. The ice in central Nares Strait which is old and first-year ice in roughly equal proportion, has become mobile. To the north and south of this area, the ice remains fast. South of the fast ice, in Smith Sound, there is a mixture of first-year and old ice in open drift conditions. Lancaster Sound contains mobile first-year ice with a trace of old ice. The Gulf of Boothia contains mobile first-year ice. Prince Regent Inlet contains mostly first-year ice with a trace of old ice. An ice-bridge spans the Inlet which contains otherwise mobile ice. Eastern Baffin Bay consists of first-year ice with a trace of old ice in open drift conditions and contains large zones of bergy water. Western Baffin Bay is marked by first-year ice with some old ice in very close pack conditions. Cumberland Sound contains mostly first-year ice with a trace of old ice in very open drift conditions. Eureka Sound and Jones Sound contain mainly first-year ice with some with some old ice. Both areas remain fast.
Canada West
The areas surrounding the Queen Elizabeth Islands comprise old ice and first-year ice. M’Clure Strait contains predominantly fast old ice and first-year ice. Bergy water and new ice are present at the entrance to M’Clure Strait. M’Clintock Channel and Peel Sound are fast first-year ice with a trace of old ice. The western section of Barrow Strait is fast first-year ice with a trace of old ice, while the eastern section is mobile. Amundsen Gulf, Coronation Gulf and Queen Maud Gulf are fast first-year ice. Bergy water areas are expanding at the entrance to Amundsen Gulf and near the coasts of Banks Island. Canada Basin is primarily old ice with some first-year ice present. The Beaufort Sea comprises first-year ice and old ice.
Chukchi Sea
In the Chukchi Sea air temperatures range from -02°C in the north to +16°C in Kotzebue Sound. A large polynya (approx. 24,000 sq NM) has opened along the Alaskan coast from Point Hope to Wainwright. Another large polynya (approx. 1,800 sq NM) has opened along the north side of Wrangel Island. Other narrow polynyas have opened along the fast ice near the Russian coastline. Buoy drift is generally in a clockwise pattern with faster drifting floes in the west and slower drifting floes in the east, with the exception of floes drifting up to 100 nautical miles over the past week near Utqiagvik (Barrow).
East Siberian Sea
In the East Siberian Sea air temperatures range from -02°C over the New Siberian Islands to +10°C along the Russian coast. Sea ice drift is generally northwestward along the eastern side of the sea veering to become northward on the western side of the sea. A large polynya is open in the southeast portion of the sea (approx. 8,000 sq NM), a second polynya is open north of the New Siberian Islands (approx. 15,000 sq NM).
Greenland Sea
As the spring and summer season progresses, melting continues across the region. The northern portion of the Greenland Sea remains largely consolidated, with only limited melt observed in the shallow bays. Farther south, areas of weakening ice are becoming more apparent as the sea ice continues its seasonal movement. Ice drift has been particularly rapid in the southern region, advancing approximately 60 nautical miles over the past week.
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 with areas of open water along the shores. Hudson Bay comprises first-year ice. Areas of open water are present along the shores of Southampton Island, and in the northwest and the northeast of Hudson Bay. Hudson Strait contains first-year ice with some old ice in its eastern entrance. Large areas of bergy water are present along its northern shore. Ungava Bay comprises first-year ice.
Kara Sea
Seasonal sea ice deterioration continues throughout the Kara Sea. The fast ice within the Gulf of Ob has begun melting out, particularly in the southern region due to fresh river discharge.
Laptev Sea
A deep low pressure system is over the North Pole, producing westerly winds across the Laptev Sea. The sea ice is generally drifting eastward in the western portion of the sea and then northeastward over the eastern portion of the sea. A Polynya has opened on the lee side of Severnaya Zemlya, and others polynyas remain open along the fast ice edge from the Taymyr Peninsula to the New Siberian Islands.
Sea of Okhotsk
The region continues to experience melting due to warmer temperatures ranging from +02°C to +06°C. While the ice in the Sakhalin and Shelikov Gulf remains largely intact, some polynas have formed along the coastline. However, certain sheltered bays along the Sakhalin Island have begun to melt.
