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
In the Northern Bay of Bothnia 30-70 cm thick fast ice and 20-40 cm thick consolidated drift ice to Kemi 2, Oulu 1 and Johan. Farther out 20-40 cm thick very close ice, ridged in places, and in places thinner level ice. In the Southern Bay of Bothnia 10-30 cm thick fast ice in the archipelago. Off the coast 5-15 nautical miles wide zone of thin level ice to the Quark. Farther out 10-30 cm thick very close ice. In the Quark 5-25 cm thick very close ice, thin level ice and new ice. In the Vaasa archipelago 15-40 cm thick fast ice to Ensten. In the Sea of Bothnia 10-40 cm thick fast ice in the archipelago. Off the coast 5-10 nautical miles wide zone of thin ice and new ice. In the Archipelago Sea 10-30 cm thick fast ice and thin ice in the inner archipelago. In the outer archipelago, new ice and ice formation. In the western Gulf of Finland 10-25 cm thick fast ice and thin level ice in the archipelago. Farther out thin ice, new ice and ice formation 10 nautical miles south of Russarö and north of Naissaari. In the eastern Gulf of Finland 10-30 cm thick fast ice and level ice in the archipelago. Farther out first thin level ice 10 nautical miles to south of Kalbådagrund and to Gogland and then 5-25 cm thick close and very close ice to the Estonian coast.
Barents Sea
Slight westward movement across the northern Barents Sea allowed for some compression of the first year ice to the north.
Bering Sea
The ice edge in the Bering Sea expanded by approximately 20 nautical miles across the region, while ice conditions near Kamchatka remained similar to last week.
Canada East
Eureka Sound features first-year fast ice with patches of old ice. Western Baffin Bay contains mainly first-year ice with some old ice mixed in. Eastern Baffin Bay is dominated by first-year ice and some young ice, with bergy water present in the southeast. Western Davis Strait has first-year ice, some young ice, and a trace of old ice moving south from Baffin Bay toward Cumberland Sound. Eastern Davis Strait consists of bergy water. Cumberland Sound contains a mixture of first-year, young, and new ice.The Labrador Sea is bergy water with young and first-year ice along the Labrador coast. Frobisher Bay contains a mixture of new and young ice.
Canada North
The Arctic Ocean contains predominantly old ice. Nares Strait is mainly covered by old ice, with some first-year ice present. Jones Sound also consists of first-year fast ice with some areas of old ice. Lancaster Sound is largely covered by first-year ice, along with some old ice. The Gulf of Boothia holds mobile first-year ice, with a small amount of old ice drifting in from the northern region near Lancaster Sound. Foxe Basin is mostly filled with first-year ice, accompanied by some young ice.
Canada West
The Queen Elizabeth Islands are fast with old and first-year ice. Viscount Melville Sound contains predominantly fast old and first-year ice. M’Clure Strait is now fast old and first-year ice. Barrow Strait is covered by a mix of fast and mobile first-year ice, including a trace of old ice, along with a couple of areas of predominantly old ice with some first-year ice. M’Clintock Channel is now fasted with predominantly first-year ice with a trace of old ice. Peel Sound is covered by fast first-year ice with a trace of old ice. Northern Victoria Strait is now fasted first-year ice. Southern Victoria Strait continues to be mobile first-year ice. Queen Maud Gulf, Coronation Gulf, and Rae Strait are covered by fast first-year ice. Amundsen Gulf is mostly fasted with 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 further offshore.
Chukchi Sea
Significant westward movement of the pack ice in the Chukchi Sea occurred over the past week. A new polynya over 650 NM long formed adjacent to the western coast of Alaska, and refilled due to freezing conditions. The fast ice edge north of Utqiagvik, AK expanded substantially.
Cook Inlet
First-year and young ice in Cook Inlet remain stable, with temperatures hovering slightly above freezing.
East Siberian Sea
Westward drift of the pack ice allowed for new and young ice to form along the fast ice edge IVO the Anzhu Islands.
Greenland Sea
Development across the Greenland Sea remained minimal this week, particularly along the central ice edge and along southern Greenland. Temperatures in these areas ranged from -12°C to 0°C. Ice drift was normal, following typical southward movement.
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 is predominantly first-year ice with small amounts of young ice where the pack moves away from the coast. Hudson Strait contains a mixture of first-year ice and young ice. Ungava Bay contains mostly first-year ice with small amounts of young ice along the southwestern coast and south of Akpatok Island. James Bay is predominantly first-year ice with small amounts of young ice along the eastern and western coasts. The Labrador Sea is bergy water with young and first-year ice along the Labrador coast. Frobisher Bay contains a mixture of new and young ice.
Kara Sea
Strong southerly winds shifted the ice cover, opening polynyas that—given air temperatures of -24°C to -34°C—immediately refroze with new and young ice.
Laptev Sea
The pack ice has drifted northward due to transpolar drift.
Sea of Japan
Ice growth near Vladivostok has retreated in response to warmer air temperatures. The ice edge continues to extend southward west of Sakhalin Island, with increasing ice concentrations observed north of Hokkaido.
Sea of Okhotsk
Due to passing storm systems, the ice edge along the eastern side of Sakhalin Island was compressed, while farther north the ice edge expanded by approximately 120 nautical miles. During this period, the ice edge also shifted closer to the western coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula.
White Sea
With frigid air temperatures ranging from -14°C to -20°C across the region, sea ice continued to thicken. These conditions allowed new ice to expand approximately 42 nautical miles from Dvina Bay. Ice also extended from Mezen Bay toward the Kola Peninsula.
Yellow Sea
Ice development has receded this week, due to warmer temperatures in Lioadong and the Korea Bays.
