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
Temperatures across the southern Barents Sea have risen above freezing, while areas surrounding Franz Josef Land remain well below 0°C. These colder conditions have helped preserve the existing sea ice, although some openings have developed within the pack. Minimal amounts of sea ice remain adjacent to Novaya Zemlya.
Bering Sea
Ice coverage continued to gradually decrease in the Bering Sea over the last week, as temperatures were above freezing throughout most of the region. Polynyas expanded and remained open, with the two largest ones forming west of St. Lawrence Island, and in northern Norton Sound.
Canada East
Eureka Sound and Jones Sound are characterized by fast ice composed mainly of first-year ice, along with some old ice. Nares Strait contains fastened old and first-year ice. South of this fast ice, in Smith Sound, there is a mixture of first-year, young, and new ice. With warming of temperatures, large areas of bergy water have opened up. Along the coast of Greenland, ice conditions consist mainly of first-year ice. Davis Strait also contains mostly first-year ice, with some old ice. The ice edge compressed significantly westward over the last week, in some areas, up to 60 nautical miles further west than where it was last week. The Gulf of Boothia is covered by first-year ice, while Prince Regent Inlet is primarily fast first-year ice with a trace of old ice. A small amount of old ice is also present in the northern Gulf of Boothia and southern Prince Regent Inlet, where the ice remains mobile. The ice along the Labrador coast is first-year ice with a trace of old ice. The Labrador Sea is bergy water. Frobisher Bay contains mostly first-year ice with some young ice. Some old ice is present at the entrance of Frobisher Bay.
Canada North
The Arctic Ocean is predominantly covered by old ice, with some first-year ice present along the northern Elizabeth Islands. In the last week, the pack has become mobile again. Cumberland Sound contains mostly first-year ice with some young ice. Some old ice is present at the entrance of Cumberland Sound. Lancaster Sound features a mix of young ice with some first-year ice in the western section. Predominantly easterly winds pushed ice back into the sound; the eastern section is now a mix of close pack young and first-year ice including a trace of old ice. Baffin Bay is largely covered by first-year ice, with some old ice present.
Canada West
The areas surrounding the Queen Elizabeth Islands are characterized by a mix of fasted old ice and first-year ice. M’Clure Strait contains predominantly fast old ice, first-year ice and some new and young ice at the western extent. Barrow Strait, M’Clintock Channel and Peel Sound are fast first-year ice with a trace of old ice. Amundsen Gulf, Coronation Gulf and Queen Maud Gulf are fast first-year ice, with an area of new and young ice west of Sachs Harbour. Canada Basin is primarily old ice with some first-year ice present. Young ice exists in several leads north of Prince Patrick Island. The Beaufort Sea is first-year ice with some old ice present. Areas of new and young ice continue to form in the southeastern section as the mobile ice moves away from the fast ice.
Chukchi Sea
Multiyear ice continues to be present in the Chukchi Sea, with temperatures fluctuating between -4°C and -6°C. Additionally, the polynya located west of Point Hope in Alaska has expanded approximately 30 nautical miles since last week.
East Siberian Sea
Openings continue to exist along the fast ice edge in the East Siberian Sea. Near the New Siberian Islands, the opening has increased by approximately 40 nautical miles since last week. Temperatures remain slightly above freezing in the area.
Greenland Sea
Sea ice in the Greenland Sea has drifted more than 70 NM southward over the past week. Air temperatures reaching up to 6°C are accelerating melt in the southern Greenland Sea, while colder temperatures ranging from -12°C to -4°C in the north continue to support stable ice conditions.
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
James Bay contains first-year ice. Hudson Bay comprises first-year ice with some young ice along its western shore. Areas of open water are present along the shores of Southampton Island and in the northeast of Hudson Bay. Hudson Strait contains first-year ice with some areas of bergy water. Ungava Bay contains a mixture of first-year ice with some young ice in the southern section. Foxe Basin is dominated by first-year ice with some young ice present in its northwestern section. Recent warm temperatures have generated a number of large areas of open water over the last week.
Kara Sea
Temperatures near -6°C continue across the Kara Sea, helping sea ice remain largely stable. Southwestward ice drift has opened a lead near the coast of Novaya Zemlya, while the southern portion of the archipelago has become increasingly consolidated with pack ice.
Laptev Sea
Multiyear ice in the Laptev Sea remains stable; however, polynyas are forming along the fast ice edge, where temperatures slightly above freezing are allowing for the refreezing of new and young ice.
Sea of Japan
Much of the fast ice in the Tartar Strait has broken off and become mobile.
Sea of Okhotsk
In the Sakhalin Gulf, pack ice has retreated up to 30 NM towards the coast and some of the fast ice in sheltered bays is now mobile.
