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
Cooler temperatures with some increased ice growth. Some new ice forming around Franz Josef Land. There is also some new ice growth in Svalbard.
Bering Sea
New and young ice continue to develop along the Russian and Alaskan coasts, within the Gulf of Anadyr, and along the Kamchatka Peninsula.
Canada East
Davis Strait is bergy water. Frobisher Bay and Cumberland Sound are bergy water. Labrador Coast is bergy water.
Canada North
The ice along the north coast of Ellesmere Island contains predominantly multi-year ice with some second-year ice, first-year ice and young ice. The ice along the west coast of Axel Heiberg Island contains predominantly consolidated first-year and multi-year ice. There is predominantly thin first-year and young fast ice throughout Nansen Sound and Greely Fiord. The entrance to Nansen Sound also has a trace of multi-year ice. In Nares Strait and Kane Basin, multi-year ice, second-year ice, first-year ice, young ice and new ice are present. Baffin Bay contains bergy water, with new ice and young ice along the Greenland coast and Pond Inlet. Jones Sound contains new ice with some young ice forming along the north coast of Devon Island. There is a pack of multi-year ice, second-year ice, young ice and new ice drifting across its entrance. Lancaster Sound contains a mix of young and new ice. The ice pack drifting southward from the east coast of Devon Island contains new ice with some young ice and a trace of multi-year ice. In Prince Regent Inlet and Gulf of Boothia there is new ice and young ice continuing to form.
Canada West
The ice in the Queen Elizabeth Islands has consolidated during the past week. Mostly multi-year with some second-year and first-year fast ice covers the area with the exception of mostly firstyear and grey-white fast ice with a trace of multi-year ice in most of Norwegian Bay, Sverdrup Channel and Massey Sound. The extreme southeastern part of Norwegian Bay remains mobile with grey-white ice. All of the Parry Channel is covered with grey-white and grey ice including a trace of mutli-year ice, particularly in M’Clure Strait and eastern Viscount Melville Sound. M’Clintock Channel, Larsen Sound and Peel Sound are now covered with grey-white and grey ice. Queen Maud Gulf, Simpson and Rasmussen Sounds have grey and new ice with some greywhite ice. The waterways from Amundsen Gulf into Coronation Gulf are open water to low concentration of new ice. The offshore areas of northern coast of Alaska, Yukon and the Northwest Territory have grey and new with some grey-white ice. Southwest of Point Barrow remains mostly bergy water or open water. The pack ice in the northern Beaufort Sea contains predominantly multi-year ice with some second-year ice and first-year ice. A wide band of grey-white ice has developed beyond the leading edge of the multi-year/second year ice reaching 71N. The Arctic Ocean consists of multi-year ice with some second-year ice.
Chukchi Sea
Ice along the northern edge of the Chukchi has drifted south along the Russian coast and into the Bering. That same pattern has carried multi- year ice along the Russian coast further south as well. With steady, cool temperatures a vast amount of new ice has developed thus minimizing the previous area of ice free within the Chukchi. Ice within Kotzebue Sound has grown out and north along the coast and is beginning to merge into the new ice coming from the east.
Cook Inlet
Isolated areas of new ice have formed in the Cook Inlet within sheltered bays.
East Siberian Sea
Like much of the area, ice has drifted away from the coast causing opportunity for new ice to develop in addition to young ice already present. This process is also extremely evident northeast of the New Siberian Islands. Low temperatures across the region are further assisting in the advancement of ice growth within the pack ice. Multiyear ice has shifted slightly to the northeast.
Greenland Sea
Southward drift continues in the Greenland Sea; ice now extends an additional 35NM southward. Somewhat warmer temperatures along the ice edge and to the south have inhibited new ice formation, while cold temperatures and freeze-up still dominate the Greenland coast.
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 and James Bay are mostly ice-free with open water along the coastlines and some new ice around Southampton Island and western coast of Hudson Bay. Foxe Basin is predominantly ice-free, however open water surrounds the coastlines. New ice continues to form around the islands in the northeast section of the basin and along the coast surrounding Cape Dominion. Southern Foxe Basin is mostly ice-free with open water along the coastlines and young ice forming along the eastern coast. Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay are bergy water. Lake Melville is ice-free.
Kara Sea
Very cold temperatures and increased some fast ice polygons along the Russian coast and some small islands. Ice is increasing as well as compacting.
Laptev Sea
Strong movement of the ice in combination with winds in the area have created some areas of blowout along the coast as well as the west side of the islands of Severna Zemlya. Due to this occurrence new has formed within these areas. Persistent freezing temperatures continue to development young ice within the region while also encouraging the growth of first year ice.
Sea of Japan
New and Young ice is persistent within the Tatar Strait.
Sea of Okhotsk
Young ice persists in Penzhin Bay as new ice begins to form along the Kamchatka Peninsula and the inlets of Uda Bay.
