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 continues to retreat northward as melting conditions persist.
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea and Kamchatka Sea are ice free.
Canada East
Canada Basin is comprised of old ice with some first-year ice. Queen Elizabeth Islands is mostly old ice with some first-year ice present in very close pack conditions. Some bergy water and ice in open drift conditions are present, especially its southeastern section. Baffin Bay, Jones Sound, Gulf of Boothia, Committee Bay, and the entrance to Barrow Strait are bergy water. Foxe Basin and Pelly Bay are ice free. Davis Strait is bergy water, with a small amount of old ice present near the Baffin Island coast in the vicinity of Cumberland Sound.
Canada North
Nares Strait is comprised of old ice with some first-year ice, with bergy water in its southern section. Eureka Sound and surroundings contain small amounts of first-year ice and some old ice with some new ice developing in Greely Fjord. There are also areas of bergy water. The ice bridge in Nansen sound has unfastened and is breaking apart, it is comprised predominantly of old ice with some first-year ice. Lancaster Sound, Jones Sound, Committee Bay, and Cumberland Sound are bergy water.
Canada West
Canada Basin contains old and first-year ice in roughly equal proportion in conditions ranging from open drift to very close pack. A large section of bergy water is present in the Basin’s western section. The Beaufort Sea contains mostly old ice with some first-year ice in mainly open drift conditions. Bergy water is present in vast sections of the Sea, notably along most of the coastline from Point Barrow to Tuktoyaktuk. Small amount of new ice is forming between the ice pack around 77N and 75N and 140W and 130W. The ice within the Queen Elizabeth Islands is mostly old with some first-year ice present in very close pack conditions. Some bergy water and ice in open drift conditions are present in the Islands, especially its southeastern section. M’Clure Strait contains mostly old ice with some first-year ice present in open drift to very close pack conditions. Western Barrow Strait contains mostly first-year ice with some old ice present in mostly open to close pack conditions. Peel Sound contains bergy water. M’Clintock Channel contains mostly bergy water with some old and first-year ice present coming down from Parry Channel. Queen Maud Gulf and Coronation Gulf consist of bergy water. Amundsen Gulf contains mostly bergy water with some old and first-year ice present in open to very open drift conditions.
Chukchi Sea
Most ice within the Chukchi Sea is multiyear, as the first-year has melted away. Concentrations continue to decrease.
East Siberian Sea
Pack ice remains in the northern East Siberian Sea. A trace of melting first-year ice lingers near the Anzhu Islands.
Greenland Sea
The East Greenland Current has drifted the ice edge approximately 100 nautical miles southward since the previous analysis. Melting conditions continue.
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, James Bay and Southern Foxe Basin are ice-free. Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay comprise bergy water. Foxe Basin and Pelly Bay are ice free.
Kara Sea
The Kara Sea is mostly ice free, with only small concentrations of sea ice remaining near Severnaya Zemlya.
Laptev Sea
Sea ice continues to diminish within the Laptev Sea. Significant ice remains to the north and traces of ice remains between the Faddey Islands and mainland Russia.
