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
Southerly winds have resulted in a northward drift of around 45NM and the suppression of new ice formation, except around the islands of Franz Josef Land, where the edge has remained steady.
Bering Sea
Isolated areas of new ice have begun to form within sheltered inlets along the Alaskan coast.
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 coasts of Ellesmere Island and Axel Heiberg Island contains predominantly multi-year ice with some second-year ice as well as young and new ice filling in between the ice floes. The old ice has been pushed away from the coast and young ice is now taking its place. New and young ice is forming in Nansen sound. In Nares Strait and Kane Basin, multi-year, second-year, young and new ice are present. Baffin Bay contains bergy water, with some new ice developing along the Greenland coast. Jones Sound is predominantly bergy water with a small amount of multi-year and second-year ice drifting in at the entrance. Lancaster Sound is bergy water. In Prince Regent Inlet and Gulf of Boothia there are small areas of second-year ice remaining along the coast. Committee Bay contains bergy water.
Canada West
The Queen Elizabeth Islands contain mobile ice composed predominantly of multi-year ice with some second-year ice. Some of this ice has continued to fast along the coasts of the northern and western islands. New and grey ice is continuing to form around the floes of multi-year and second-year ice in the QEI. Most of the western part of the Parry Channel is bergy water with some weaker concentrations of multi-year ice with some new ice in northeastern Viscount Melville Sound, and near the southern coast of Melville and Prince Patrick Islands. M’Clintock Channel, Peel Sound and Larsen Sound are bergy water. The waterways from Amundsen Gulf to Queen Maud Gulf and Rae Strait are ice-free except open water near the coast. The coasts of the Northwest Territories and Yukon are mostly ice-free. The northern coast of Alaska is ice-free except open water near the coast. Bergy water is surrounding Point Barrow. The southern section of the Beaufort Sea including the area west of Banks Island and north of the Northwest Territories is bergy water. The pack ice in the northern Beaufort Sea contains predominantly multi-year ice with some second-year ice, grey and new ice. The Arctic Ocean consists of multi-year ice with some second-year ice.
Chukchi Sea
A significant westward drift has occurred across the Chukchi Sea. Additionally, significant new ice formation has occurred around Wrangel Island and within sheltered bays along the Alaskan coast.
East Siberian Sea
Significant new ice formation has occurred in the East Siberian Sea, especially around the New Siberian Islands, the Russian coast, and the eastern basin of the sea.
Greenland Sea
Air temperatures along Greenland Sea range from -14°C in the north to -02°C in the south. Sea ice growth is normal in these freezing temperatures. In the Greenland south region new and young ice is developing in the fjords and inlets due to adjacent cold air temperatures over land. Buoy data indicates a southward drift at 33 to 90NM over the past 7 days. Old ice has been transported south nearly to Scoresby Sound.
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 ice-free. Foxe Basin has ice-free conditions. Southern Foxe Basin is ice-free. Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay are bergy water. Lake Melville is ice-free.
Kara Sea
The Kara Sea has seen significant new ice formation, especially around Severna Zemlya and the Russian coast.
Laptev Sea
Significant new ice formation has occurred in the Laptev Sea, especially around Severna Zemlya, the Russian coast, and the central basin of the sea.
White Sea
Isolated areas of new ice remain in sheltered bays in the northern White Sea.
