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
Ice remains in the northernmost portion of the Baltic Sea. Melt is occurring throughout the region.
Barents Sea
Persistent freezing conditions continue to promote sea ice development. Regional ice drift remains directed toward the southeast due to the cyclonic nature of the current system within the Barents Sea. The extensive polynya southeast of Franz Josef Land continues to fill with new and young ice. Fast ice remains stable around Svalbard and Franz Josef Land.
Bering Sea
Throughout the region, polynyas are forming as ice melts out.
Canada East
The Labrador Sea contains first-year ice with a trace of old ice. Davis Strait is predominantly first-year ice with some old ice except for the eastern edge where it is primarily bergy water with lower concentrations of first-year ice. Baffin Bay is predominantly first-year ice with some old ice in the western section while the eastern section is predominantly first-year ice. The ice bridge remains in Nares Strait (Kane Basin and Kennedy Channel) 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 Gulf of Boothia and Prince Regent Inlet contain first-year ice. Baffin Bay is predominantly first-year ice with some old ice in the western section while the eastern section is predominantly first-year ice. Cumberland Sound is a mix of first-year ice and young ice.
Canada North
The ice bridge remains in Nares Strait (Kane Basin and Kennedy Channel) 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. Jones Sound is fast first-year ice, including some old ice east of Grise Fiord. Lancaster Sound is predominantly first-year ice with a trace of old ice at the eastern entrance. The Gulf of Boothia and Prince Regent Inlet contain first-year ice. Baffin Bay is predominantly first-year ice with some old ice in the western section while the eastern section is predominantly first-year ice. Cumberland Sound is a mix of first-year ice and young ice.
Canada West
Queen Elizabeth Islands region comprises mostly fast old ice and some fast first-year ice. M’Clure Strait contains fast old ice transitioning 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 large 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 fast first-year ice. M’Clintock Channel, Peel Sound, Queen Maud Gulf, Coronation Gulf, and Amundsen Gulf contain fast first-year ice. Victoria Strait contains a small polynya of mobile first-year ice. Eastern Beaufort Sea contains mostly old ice with fewer amounts of first-year ice. Large leads in the pack ice have frozen over with first-year ice. Large leads along the coasts of Banks Island.
Chukchi Sea
Multiyear ice in the northern Chukchi Sea shifted as much as 50 NM southwest over the last week. In the southern Chukchi Sea and into the Bering Strait, there is an opening east of the Diomede Islands that is expanding and remaining as open water due to temperatures around freezing.
East Siberian Sea
Multiyear ice in the northern East Siberian Sea has shifted up to 20 NM west in the last week. On the far eastern side of the New Siberian Islands, a polynya is forming and expanding along the fast ice edge.
Greenland Sea
The ice edge stayed around the same areas as last week, while the pack ice has moved between 35-40 NM south.
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 around Inukjuak. James Bay mainly has first-year ice with an area of open water south of Akimiski Island. Foxe Basin is predominantly first-year ice with areas of young ice along parts of the coasts. Ungava Bay is mostly first-year ice with an area of young ice in the northeast.
Kara Sea
Openings have developed and subsequently refrozen with new and young ice along regions of fast ice in the northern Kara Sea. While fast ice concentrations remain steady along Novaya Zemlya and throughout Severnaya Zemlya, a slight northward shift in pack ice across the Kara Sea this week has contributed to some weakening of coastal ice along mainland Russia. The pack ice near the Kara Gates has diffused northward due to southwesterly winds south of Novaya Zemlya.
Laptev Sea
Weakness's along the fast ice edge near Severnaya Zemlya and Taymyr Peninsula opened and expanded over the last week. The pack ice shifted north since last week.
Sea of Japan
The only ice left in the Sea of Japan is the fast ice in the Tartar Strait.
Sea of Okhotsk
In the Sea of Okhotsk West, ice melted out, pushing the pack ice edge northward. Along Sakhalin Island, pack ice melted out and shifted toward the coastline.
White Sea
Largest concentration of ice is along the Kanin Peninsula. The rest of the White Sea only has small pockets of ice left in the Kandalaksha Gulf, Onega and Dvina Bays.
