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
The ice field in the Bay of Bothnia is compressed and the central Quark is mainly open water. In the Northern Bay of Bothnia 40-80 cm thick fast ice and 30-50 cm thick consolidated drift ice to Kemi 2, Oulu 2 and from Raahe to Johan. Farther out 20-50 cm thick, in places ridged, very close ice. Ice pressure occurs in the ice field and it is in places difficult to force. In the Southern Bay of Bothnia 20-45 cm thick fast ice in the archipelago. Farther out in places areas of 15-40 cm thick close and very close ice and drifting floebits. In the Quark mainly open water. East of Nordvalen 15-40 cm thick very open ice. In the Vaasa archipelago 20-50 cm thick fast ice and consolidated drift ice to Norra Gloppsten. In the Sea of Bothnia 20-55 cm thick fast ice in the archipelago. At the fast ice edge compact brash ice. In the Archipelago Sea rotten fast ice in the archipelago approximately to Vidskär. Open water in Kihti. In the western Gulf of Finland 15-40 cm thick rotting fast ice in the archipelago. In the ice edge in places 10-30 cm thick compact ice. Farther out open water. In the eastern Gulf of Finland 20-50 cm thick fast ice in the archipelago to Orrengrund and Haapasaari. Farther out 10-40 cm thick, in places ridged and rafted, very close ice to the line Kotka lighthouse - Gogland. Further west open water. In the Lake Saimaa 30-45 cm thick ice.
Barents Sea
Warmer temperatures and southerly winds have contributed to weakening in Chesha Bay and at the northern tip of the Kanin Peninsula. These winds have also pushed the ice edge back by approximately 30–70 nautical miles in the northeastern Barents Sea. Meanwhile, the ice edge has remained relatively stable compared to last week in the northwestern portion of the Barents Sea. Polynyas remain open on the lee side of Franz Josef Land.
Bering Sea
Ice coverage in the eastern Bering Sea is nearing record levels as arctic air and northerly winds continue. The ice edge is encroaching on warmer waters (~2C) as north winds strip ice away from the main pack. These strips are melting fairly quickly and may affect how fast the edge progresses southward. The opposite is true in Kamchatka as the ice edge retreated since last week.
Canada East
The Labrador Sea is bergy water with a mixture of first-year, young and new ice along the Labrador coast with a trace of old ice extending to 55N. Eureka Sound and Jones Sound contain first-year ice and some old ice. Davis Strait contains mostly first-year ice with some old ice. The Gulf of Boothia and southern Prince Regent Inlet contain first-year ice with a trace of old ice in southern Prince Regent Inlet. The northern part of Prince Regent Inlet has become consolidated with first-year ice with a trace of old ice.
Canada North
The Arctic Ocean contains old ice. In Nares Strait, the ice bridge has formed and contains a mixture of fast old ice and first-year ice. South of the ice bridge in Smith Sound, there is a mixture of old ice, first-year ice, young ice, and new ice. Lancaster Sound contains mostly first-year ice with some old ice. Baffin Bay contains mostly first-year ice with some old ice. There is some young ice and new ice in the southeastern section along the Greenland coast.
Canada West
The waters around the Queen Elizabeth Islands are fast old ice and first-year ice. M’Clure Strait and Viscount Melville Sound contain predominantly fast old ice with some first-year ice. Barrow Strait is fast first-year ice with some old ice in the western section; in the eastern section there is mobile young and new ice with a trace of old ice. M’Clintock Channel is fast first-year ice with a trace of old ice. Peel Sound is fast first-year ice with a trace of old ice. Victoria Strait is fast first-year ice. There is an area of mobile first-year ice in the southern section. Queen Maud Gulf and Coronation Gulf are fast first-year ice. Amundsen Gulf is mostly fast first-year ice with a trace of old ice in the northern section. Canada Basin is predominantly old ice with some first-year ice. The Beaufort Sea is predominantly first-year ice with some old ice.
Chukchi Sea
In the Chukchi Sea, sea ice drift was primarily south-southeastward compared to last week with no significant changes to the area.
Cook Inlet
The main ice edge in Cook Inlet extends from Anchor Point to Augustine Volcano. There is also ice in Kamishak Bay flowing into Shelikof Strait.
East Siberian Sea
In the East Siberian Sea, sea ice drift was primarily south southeastward this week. -30°C temperatures have allowed for continuous sea ice development of the young ice in the area.
Greenland Sea
Air temperatures over the Greenland Sea range from -26°C in the north to 0°C in southern Greenland. Buoys in the Greenland Sea have generally drifted southward with various distances ranging from 33 to 150 nautical miles over 7 days. In the Greenland north region newly formed fast ice has formed along already existing fast ice.
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 young and new ice forming where the pack pulls away from the coast. Hudson Strait contains mostly first-year ice with young and new ice along parts of the coasts. Ungava Bay contains mostly first-year ice in the northern and eastern sections with young and new ice in the southwestern section. Foxe Basin contains mostly first-year ice with some young and new ice present in the western section along the coast.
Kara Sea
Air temperatures over the Kara Sea range from -08°C to -30°C. Sea ice in the southern Kara Sea is drifting westward, increasing ice pressure along Novaya Zemlya, and thinner ice types are rapidly freezing along the Yamal Peninsula. In the northern Kara Sea the sea ice is drifting northward, and a polynya has opened along the fast ice along the main land Russian coastline.
Laptev Sea
For the most part the Laptev Sea has remained unchanged since last week. However, southerly winds and a southeastward drift have caused small polynyas of new and young sea ice to form around the Severnaya Zemlya Islands.
Sea of Japan
In the Sea of Japan, fast ice remains stable. Air temperatures are beginning to warm to around -2 °C, causing sea ice concentration to decrease.
Sea of Okhotsk
Sea ice continues to drift southward along Sakhalin Island toward Hokkaido, where it melts in warmer waters. The Shelikhov Gulf has seen little change since last week, and conditions across the rest of the Sea of Okhotsk remain largely unchanged.
White Sea
Sea ice in the White Sea is generally drifting northward, under the influence of southerly winds. With air temperatures above the freezing point for sea ice formation ice free areas are observed in Onega Bay, Dvina Bay and Mezen Bay.
