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
New and young ice continue to thicken in the Barents Sea, driven by low air temperatures around -16°C.
Bering Sea
Sea ice formation and development continues in the sheltered bays and inlets around Norton Sound, the Gulf of Anadyr, and within the Karaginsky Gulf.
Canada East
Eastern Baffin Bay consists mostly of new ice with a trace of old ice. Eastern and southern Baffin Bay contain bergy water. Foxe Basin consists mainly of open with some young and new ice present in its northern section and along most of its coastline. An area of ice-free water is present in the southern part of the Basin. Davis Strait consists of bergy water. Cumberland Sound contains bergy water except for very small amounts of new ice present in isolated coastal areas.
Canada North
The Arctic Ocean contains mainly old ice with some second year and first-year ice present. Eureka Sound consists mostly of first-year ice with some old and second-year ice present. Nares Strait contains a roughly even mixture of old and first-year ice with some second-year and young ice present. A mixture of old, second-year, first-year and young ice is present in Baffin Bay’s extreme northwestern section having originated from Nares Strait. The eastern Queen Elizabeth Islands area consists mainly of first-year ice with some old, second-year ice and young ice present. Jones Sound contains mostly young ice with some old and second-year ice present. Lancaster Sound contains mostly young and new ice with a trace of old ice present. Some first-year ice and second-year ice are present in its eastern section. Northeastern Canada Basin is mostly multi-year ice. New and young ice continue to form along the western coast of Greenland. The Gulf of Boothia, Prince-Regent Inlet and southern Committee Bay consist of young and new ice with bergy water present in central Committee Bay.
Canada West
The Queen Elizabeth Islands comprise multi-year, second year, and first year ice. M’Clure Strait and western Viscount Melville Sound contain predominantly multi-year ice with some second-year ice. Eastern Viscount Melville Sound and Barrow Strait contain mostly young ice with lesser amounts of multi-year and second-year ice. A mix of young ice with lesser amounts of multi-year and second-year ice is present in M’Clintock Channel. New and young ice continue to form in Larsen Sound. Bergy water is present in Western Beaufort Sea along the coast line and in Coronation and Queen Maud Gulf. New ice continues developing along the Alaskan, Yukon and Northwest Territories coasts as well as in Dolphin and Union Strait, Queen Maud and Rae Strait. Beaufort Sea has mostly multi-year, second-year, and first year ice north of 74N and south of that is mainly young ice with some multi year. Pervasive new ice formation is present along the ice pack boundary.
Chukchi Sea
The ice edge in the Chukchi Sea expanded southward over the past week, with growth ranging anywhere from 15-80 NM. Old ice continues to drift further west, away from the Beaufort Sea. Extensive new ice growth was observed along the coast south of Point Hope and within Kotzebue Sound.
East Siberian Sea
The pack ice in the East Siberian Sea has drifted slightly to the west. Katabatic winds IVO Chaunskaya Bay allowed for new ice to form along the coast. Fast ice continues to thicken throughout.
Greenland Sea
Buoy data indicates significant ice drift ranging from 130 to 140 nautical miles along the ice edge, in central and southern Greenland Sea. Despite this substantial movement, persistently below-freezing temperatures are enabling continued sea ice growth and development across the region.
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
Northern Hudson Bay is mostly ice-free except for the western coast and the shores of Southampton Island: new ice is developing along their entirety. Southern Hudson Bay is mostly ice-free with new ice developing along the southern coast. James Bay contains open water with new ice development along the western coast. Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay contain bergy water. Frobisher Bay contains bergy water with a low amount of new ice developing near Iqaluit. The Labrador Sea is bergy water. Lake Melville is ice-free.
Kara Sea
Recent air temperatures in the Kara Sea, ranging from -18°C to -4°C, have led to significant ice growth, extending over 100 NM since last week. The combination of frigid temperatures and atmospheric conditions has resulted in fasted ice in the Gulf of Ob. New and young ice development continues along the eastern coast of Novaya Zemlya.
Laptev Sea
The Laptev Sea is now completely ice covered. Pack ice in the central region continues to thicken due to frigid air temperatures, as low as -30°C, throughout the sea.
Sea of Japan
The sea ice in the northern Strait of Tartar continues to develop as cold air temperatures persist (-8°C to -14°C).
Sea of Okhotsk
Sea ice development continues in Sheikhov Gulf and along eastern Sakhalin Island. Sea ice formation continues in sheltered bays and inlets of Sakhalin Gulf.
