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 northern Bay of Bothnia 50-80 cm thick fast ice to Kemi 3 and Oulu 3. Farther out 20-60 cm thick ridged very close ice to west of the line Kemi 1 - Raahe lighthouse. Farther west 10-40 cm thick partly ridged very close ice. The edge of the ice field runs from 13 nautical miles east of Farstugrunden towards Kalajoki. In the southern Bay of Bothnia rotten ice in places in the archipelago. Farther out, open water. The Quark is ice-free. Lake Saimaa in the southern parts has rotten ice. The large sweeps and areas of stronger currents are open. In the northern Lake Saimaa 10-40 cm thick rotting ice and open water in the areas of stronger currents.
Barents Sea
In the Barents Sea in the southern portion of the region we have seen that the fasted ice is still remaining along the coast. Ice has decreased in concentration in and around the Kara Gates on the border of the Kara Sea. A 115NM area of blow out to the east around Franz Josef Land opened up over the last week. Some new areas of fasted ice developed around Svalbard along some of the smaller islands. The ice also pushed southward over the last week and has also compacted. Temperatures for the majority of the region remain cold enough to grow ice. New and young ice was seen along the eastern ice edge.
Bering Sea
In the West Bering Sea, the ice has shifted south as it moves away from the Chukchi Peninsula. To the east of Karagin Island, the ice has moved toward the coast.
Canada East
Davis Strait is predominantly first-year ice with a trace of old ice except for the eastern edge where it is primarily bergy water with lower concentrations of first-year ice and new ice. Foxe Basin is predominantly first-year ice with areas of young ice along parts of the coasts. Davis Strait contains predominantly first-year ice with a trace of old ice. There is a seam of two tenths of old ice extending southward to 64°N. A trace of old ice is present in the eastern section, flowing from Davis Strait and extending westward to Kimmirut Frobisher Bay consists of a mix of first-year ice and young ice. The Labrador Sea contains first-year ice with a trace of old ice. Along the Labrador coast the ice pack has pulled away and opened up a region of one tenth first-year ice. Lake Melville contains first-year fast ice.
Canada North
Along the northwest coastline of Ellesmere Island, there is a pack of compact or fast first-year ice with a trace of old ice. The ice has shifted this past week and young ice has begun to grow between the first-year 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 an area of new and young ice, followed by the main pack ice further south which is mostly first-year ice with smaller amounts of old ice. The ice throughout Greely Fiord and Eureka Sound is consolidated first-year ice. Nansen Sound contains consolidated first-year ice with a trace of old ice. Jones Sound is fasted with first-year ice, including some old ice east of Grise Fiord. Baffin Bay is predominantly first-year ice with some old ice in the western section while the eastern section is predominantly filled with first-year ice. Some younger ice also exists along the Greenland Coast near Disco Island. Lancaster Sound is predominantly first-year ice. A trace of old ice exists at the eastern entrance of Lancaster Sound. The Gulf of Boothia and Prince Regent Inlet contain first-year ice. Cumberland Sound is a mix of first-year ice and young ice.
Canada West
Queen Elizabeth Islands region is fast ice consisting mostly of old ice and some first-year ice. M’Clure Strait contains fast old ice which transitions to first-year ice in Viscount Melville Sound; some of the ice is mobile in the western section leading into the Beaufort Sea. This has opened a lead where young ice and new ice are developing. Western Barrow Strait contains fast first-year ice with a trace of old ice, while eastern Barrow Strait contains mobile first-year ice. M’Clintock Channel, Peel Sound, Queen Maud Gulf, Coronation Gulf, and Amundsen Gulf contain fast first-year ice. Victoria Strait contains an area of mobile first-year ice. Eastern Beaufort Sea contains mostly old ice with smaller amounts of first-year ice. Large leads in the pack ice have frozen over with first-year ice. New leads have opened up along the coasts of Banks Island and the Northwest Territories and contain some young ice and new ice. Western Beaufort Sea contains mostly first-year ice with smaller amounts of old ice. A more concentrated band of old ice is present approximately 75 nm from the Alaskan Coast. Canada Basin is predominantly old ice with some first-year ice.
Chukchi Sea
Multiyear ice in the northern Chukchi Sea has shifted roughly 30-40 NM west. A large polynya is opening along the western portion of Alaska's north slope, and filling with new and young ice as it expands.
East Siberian Sea
Multi-year ice in the northern East Siberian Sea has moved roughly 25 NM west over the last week.
Greenland Sea
Over the past week, sea ice in the Greenland Sea has steadily drifted southward while also compacting against the coast. The ice edge has receded as far as 77NM miles in some areas. Temperatures remained fairly cold in the north and increased slightly around the southern tip of Greenland.
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 predominantly first-year ice, with young ice along its northwestern coastline and within its eastern section, between the Belcher Islands, Inukjuak, and Gilmour Island. James Bay mainly has first-year ice, with some areas of young ice located south of Akimiski Island and east of the North Twin and South Twin Islands. Hudson Strait comprises first-year ice, with new and young ice developing along the Baffin Island coast between Kimmirut and Kinngait. A small area of bergy water has opened up along the coast surrounding Kinngait. Ungava Bay is mostly first-year ice, with young ice developing along the southern coast surrounding Kuujjuaq.
Kara Sea
In the Kara Sea a large polynya has opened along the northern coast of the Russia. Another polynya is adjacent to the fasted ice near Novaya Zemlya. There have been some areas of blow out along the fasted ice edge Fasted ice is starting to fracture and break apart in the New October revolution islands. We also did see some blow out along these islands along the fasted ice edge. Fasted ice continued to grow out slightly along the smaller island.
Laptev Sea
Multi-year ice in the northern Laptev Sea has moved roughly 25 NM west over the last week.
Sea of Japan
Ice in Tatar Strait in the Sea of Japan shifted northward, further compacting into the fast ice.
Sea of Okhotsk
Ice in the northern Sea of Okhotsk shifted northward by approximately 50 NM and compressed into the coastline. At the south edge of Sakhalin Island, pack ice shifted further north as well.
White Sea
In the White Sea ice continues to melt out and temperatures have increased over the previous week from around -2 to -4C to now temperatures being 0 to +6C. The drift has kept the ice mostly pushed up along the northern coast of Russia. Fasted ice has decreased along the southern shoreline and has shrunk in total area. Ice continues to melt out. Most of the White Sea is ice free.
