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
In the Barents Sea, the ice edge north of Svalbard has retreated as much as 40NM northward over the last week as the melt season continues. Fast ice continues to deteriorate around southern Svalbard, Franz Josef Land, and along the coast of mainland Russia.
Bering Sea
Warmer temperatures are causing consistent ice melt in the Gulf of Anadyr and around St. Lawrence Island.
Canada East
The Arctic Ocean northwest of Ellesmere Island contains predominantly old ice with small amounts of first-year ice. In some places along the coast the pack is pulling away leaving areas of bergy water. The ice bridge remains in Nares Strait (Kane Basin and Kennedy Channel) and contains predominantly old ice with some first-year ice. A large area of bergy water is present to the south of the ice bridge and extends into Baffin Bay and northeastern Lancaster Sound. Eureka Sound contains fast first-year ice. Nansen Sound contains fast first-year ice with a trace of old ice. The ice in Davis Strait is mostly first-year with a trace of old ice in very close pack conditions. Jones Sound contains fast first-year ice, including some old ice east of Grise Fiord. Lancaster Sound contains first-year ice throughout. There is a trace of old ice at the eastern entrance.
Canada North
The Arctic Ocean northwest of Ellesmere Island contains predominantly old ice with small amounts of first-year ice. In some places along the coast the pack is pulling away leaving areas of bergy water. The ice bridge remains in Nares Strait (Kane Basin and Kennedy Channel) and contains predominantly old ice with some first-year ice. A large area of bergy water is present to the south of the ice bridge and extends into Baffin Bay and northeastern Lancaster Sound. 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, including some old ice east of Grise Fiord. Lancaster Sound contains first-year ice throughout. There is a trace of old ice at the eastern Entrance. The Gulf of Boothia and Prince Regent Inlet contain first-year ice. Baffin Bay and Davis Strait are predominantly first-year ice with a trace of old ice. There is bergy water in the southeastern section of Baffin Bay along the Greenland coast and in the eastern half of Davis Strait. Cumberland Sound is mostly bergy water and the fast ice is breaking up. There is first-year ice with a trace of old ice at the entrance.
Canada West
The fast ice surrounding the Queen Elizabeth Islands comprises old ice and first-year ice. A large polynya containing mobile first-year ice is present in Queens Channel. The eastern half of M’Clure Strait contains fast old ice and fast first-year ice. The ice in the western half of M’Clure Strait is mobile and contains a mix of first-year ice and old ice. Viscount Melville Sound contains fast first-year ice, with a trace of old ice south of Bathurst Island in western Barrow Strait. Eastern Barrow Strait is mobile first-year ice. M’Clintock Channel, Peel Sound, Queen Maud Gulf, and Coronation Gulf contain fast first-year ice. First-year ice in Amundsen Gulf is mostly mobile with fast first-year ice retained at Dolphin and Union Strait. Victoria Strait contains a polynya of mobile first-year ice. Thaw holes continue to develop in Rae Strait and Dolphin and Union Strait. The northwest Beaufort Sea comprises mostly first-year ice with some old ice. The eastern Beaufort Sea is predominantly old ice—with some first-year ice—extending westward along the fast ice north of the continental coastline to Alaska. The Canada Basin contains predominantly old ice with some first-year ice.
Chukchi Sea
In the Chukchi Sea a polynya has expanded by 35 nautical miles to the west of Utqiagvik (Barrow). Further south, the ice edge north of the Bering Strait is continuing to retreat. Additionally, a new polynya has formed north of Wrangel Island.
East Siberian Sea
In the East Siberian Sea, the fast ice extent has remained relatively stable. However, a northward shift of the pack ice has facilitated the expansion of the polynya near the New Siberian Islands and the adjacent fast ice edge by approximately 10 nautical miles. Over the past week, sea ice drift has been generally northwestward at a rate of 30 to 40 nautical miles, influenced by the Beaufort Gyre. This drift has resulted in a westward displacement of the polynya located near Krestovaya.
Greenland Sea
Unusually warm sea surface temperatures, as high as 06°C, around the southern tip of Greenland continue to encourage melting conditions. Northern Greenland, while cooler, is still experiencing seasonal warming of temperatures around 00°C - 02°C. Sea ice has greatly compacted coastward and drifted southward due to influences from the East Greenland Current. High southward displacements of sea ice continue, some of which traveling over 65 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
Hudson Bay contains mostly first-year ice with several large areas of open water present, notably west and south of Southampton Island and around the Belcher Islands. James Bay consists mostly of first-year ice with some areas of open water. Northern Foxe Basin contains first-year ice with areas of open water in the northwest. Southern Foxe Basin contains mostly first-year ice with some open water now present north of Southampton Island. The southern half of Hudson Strait contains first-year ice in close pack conditions while the northern half consists of a large tract of bergy water with some first-year ice in very open drift conditions. A trace of old ice exists in the eastern section of the strait. Ungava Bay contains first-year ice in varying concentrations with some bergy water now present in its southern extent. The Labrador Coast consists mainly of first-year ice with a trace of old ice. Lake Melville is ice-free.
Kara Sea
In the Kara Sea, the ice edge to the northeast of Novaya Zemlya retreated as much as 35NM northeast over the last week due to the North Atlantic Current transporting warmer waters and persistent southwest winds over the area. Along the Russian coast, where the Ob and Yenisei Rivers flow into the Kara Sea, melt out of the fast ice has begun.
Laptev Sea
In the Laptev Sea, the fast ice edge has remained relatively stable. The polynyas around Severnaya Zemlya expanded by approximately 15 nautical miles. The sea ice drift is generally northward under the influence of southerly winds.
Sea of Okhotsk
Sea ice continues to melt in the Sakhalin Gulf as warmer sea surface temperatures persist.
