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
The ice edge has retreated by an average of 40 nautical miles throughout the Barents Sea. Consequently, the area south of Novaya Zemlya is now almost entirely ice-free. Fast ice continues to degrade within Franz Josef Land and Svalbard; all fast ice previously found on Svalbard's western shore has melted.
Bering Sea
The only ice that remains is a mix between thin and medium first year sea ice, located in the western region of the Bering Sea and it is quickly diminishing.
Canada East
The Labrador Coast is mostly bergy water with areas of first-year ice with a trace of old ice Baffin Bay and Davis Strait are predominantly first-year ice with a trace of old ice. The extent of the ice pack is diminishing. Bergy water remains over the eastern half of Davis Strait. The ice bridge remains in Nares Strait (Kane Basin and Kennedy Channel) and contains predominantly old ice with some first-year ice. A large area of bergy water is present to the south of the ice bridge and extends southward to 7330N. Ice in Gulf of Boothia and Prince Regent Inlet remains a very close pack of thick first year.
Canada North
The Arctic Ocean northwest of Ellesmere Island contains predominantly old ice with small amounts of first-year ice. The northern half of Cumberland Sound remains bergy water, with fast ice breaking up. First year ice with a trace of old is predominant at the entrance of the sound. Ice bridge in Barrow Strait remains fast. Ice concentrations are diminishing in Lancaster Sound. A trace of old ice remains at the entrance of Lancaster Sound. Ice in Gulf of Boothia and Prince Regent Inlet remains a very close pack of thick first year.
Canada West
The northwest Beaufort Sea comprises mostly first-year ice with some old ice. The eastern Beaufort Sea is predominantly old ice—with some first-year ice—extending westward along the fast ice north of the continental coastline along Alaska. Ice bridge in Barrow Strait remains fast. Ice concentrations are diminishing in Lancaster Sound. A trace of old ice remains at the entrance of Lancaster Sound. The fast ice surrounding the Queen Elizabeth Islands comprises old ice and first-year ice. A large polynya containing mobile first-year ice is present and continues to grow in Queens Channel and breakup of fast ice is occurring in Belcher Channel. Viscount Melville Sound contains fast first-year ice, with a trace of old ice south of Bathurst Island in western Barrow Strait. Eastern Barrow Strait is mainly open water. M’Clintock Channel and Peel Sound contain fast first-year ice. First-year ice in Amundsen Gulf through Queen Maud Gulf is mostly mobile with fast ice largely mobile or disintegrated now. Victoria Strait is mobile first-year ice. Thaw holes continue to develop in Rae Strait.
Chukchi Sea
Seasonal warming of sea surface temperatures is causing significant melting along the coasts of Russia and Alaska, with over 55 nautical miles of ice retreating northward. Much of the fast ice has disintegrated. The polynyas north of Point Hope and near Wrangel Island have seen considerable expansion. The most densely packed ice remains northeast of Utqiagvik. Conditions in Kotzebue Sound continue to deteriorate.
East Siberian Sea
Fast ice continues to degrade, especially along the Russian coast southwest of Wrangel Island. Multiyear ice in the northern part of the sea shifted poleward, as much as 30 NM in some areas.
Greenland Sea
Easterly winds in the N. Greenland Sea compressed loose pack ice into the coast. These winds disrupted the common southward drift driven by the East Greenland Current, causing minimal southward displacement of the sea ice over the past week (approximately 30 NM). Seasonal warming of sea surface temperatures (approximately 2-4+°C) along the ice edge continue to degrade first year and multiyear concentrations. Fast ice has begun to break apart, forming small polynyas within coastal areas.
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 first-year ice with several large areas of open water present, notably in northern Hudson Bay and near the Belcher Islands. Southern Foxe Basin contains first-year ice with some open water present north of Southampton Island. James Bay contains first-year ice in various concentrations with large areas of open water, notably along the entire coast and in southern James Bay. Ungava Bay contains first-year ice in very open drift with a large area of bergy water in the south.
Kara Sea
The ice edge experienced a continuous retreat throughout the Kara Sea; particularly east of Novaya Zemlya, where it receded by an average of 60 nautical miles. Riverine output has increased the melting of fast ice within sheltered inlets. The polynyas around Severnaya Zemlya have continued to expand.
Laptev Sea
Fast ice continues to degrade, especially near Severnaya Zemlya and east of Taymyr Peninsula. Polynyas along the main fast ice edge continue to expand eastward.
Sea of Okhotsk
Stubborn first year sea ice concentrations remain in the Sakhalin Gulf but continue to diminish significantly as sea temperatures increase.
