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 40-80 cm thick fast ice and 30-50 cm thick consolidated drift ice to Kemi 2, Oulu 1 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 15-45 cm thick, in places ridged, very close ice. Leads have opened in the ice field. In the Quark 15-40 cm thick, in places ridged and rafted, very close ice. West of Sydostbrotten open water. In the Vaasa archipelago 20-50 cm thick fast ice and consolidated drift ice to Norrskär. In the Sea of Bothnia 20-55 cm thick fast ice in the archipelago. Off the fast ice, compact brash ice. In the Archipelago Sea 15-40 cm thick fast ice in the inner archipelago. In the outer archipelago 10-20 cm thick level ice to south of Vidskär. In the western Gulf of Finland 15-40 cm thick fast ice in the archipelago. Off the fast ice, first open water and then 10-30 cm thick very open ice. In the eastern Gulf of Finland 20-50 cm thick fast ice in the archipelago to Orrengrund. Off the fast ice edge an approximately 2-5 nautical miles wide lead. Farther out first 10-20 cm thick open and very open ice, then 10-40 cm thick, in places ridged, very close ice.
Barents Sea
Southerly winds due to a low pressure system over Greenland have left the ice edge in the northern Barents Sea relatively unchanged, while the ice edge in the southern Barents Sea has drifted northward and expanded up to 40 NM. Polynyas are forming and partially filling on the lee side of islands and coastlines, with air temperatures ranging between 2°C and -18°C.
Bering Sea
The ice edge has expanded around the Kamchatka Peninsula and in the Bering Sea, 15 and 25 NM, respectively. In this region, new and young ice formation remains consistent with air temperatures remaining below freezing.
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 southward to 58N. Frobisher Bay contains a mixture of young and new ice with a trace of 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. 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. Davis Strait contains mostly first-year ice with some old ice. The Gulf of Boothia contains first-year ice with a trace of old ice in Prince Regent Inlet streaming in from Lancaster Sound.
Canada North
Cumberland Sound contains a mixture of young and new ice with a trace of first-year ice. Eureka Sound and Jones Sound contain first-year ice and some old ice. 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. Lancaster Sound contains mostly first-year ice with some old ice.
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 first-year 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. Some young ice exists in leads which formed during the movement of the ice.
Chukchi Sea
In the Chukchi Sea, sea ice drift has been primarily south-southwestward this week, compressing the younger ice along the north slope of Alaska. Frigid air temperatures over the Chukchi Sea are allowing for accelerated sea ice growth in thickness.
Cook Inlet
The ice edge in Cook Inlet has extending to Cape Douglas and Kachemak Bay while first year and young ice remain consistent.
East Siberian Sea
In the East Siberian Sea, there is a slight eastward sea ice drift, leaving openings on the leeward sides of the Anzhu Islands, where young ice developed rapidly in air temperatures near -30°C.
Greenland Sea
Over the past week, air temperatures have risen from -20°C to -14°C, resulting in westward drift, compaction, and melting along the pack ice edge. In Scoresby Sound, land-fast ice is degrading and becoming mobile. Minimal concentrations of multiyear ice remain mobile around the southern tip of Greenland.
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 young and new ice where the pack moves away from the coast. Hudson Strait contains mostly first-year ice with young and new ice in the northern section. Ungava Bay contains mostly first-year ice in the northern and eastern sections with young and new ice in the southwestern section. James Bay is mainly first-year ice. Foxe Basin contains mostly first-year ice with some young and new ice present in the western section along the coast.
Kara Sea
In the southern Kara Sea, sea ice drift remains mostly stagnant. In contrast, drift in the northern Kara Sea is moving northwestward into the Barents Sea, bringing first-year ice to the ice edge. Air temperatures range from -14°C over Novaya Zemlya, where low concentrations of sea ice are located, to -30°C over the pack ice in the southern Kara Sea.
Laptev Sea
Sea ice conditions remain consistent throughout the Laptev Sea, with sea ice generally drifting eastward. The coldest air temperatures over the sea are -30°C allowing for normal to accelerated sea ice growth in thickness.
Sea of Japan
Sea ice continues to drift southward within the Tartar Strait. Air temperatures around -8°C maintain sea ice coverage. Fast ice remains consistent.
Sea of Okhotsk
Sea ice has drifted slightly westward since last week. The region continues to be dominated by first-year and young ice, while air temperatures remain below freezing.
White Sea
Southwesterly winds have compacted thicker ice against the Kola Peninsula. Concentrations of thinner ice are located on the lee side of the Onega Peninsula, the Solovetsky Islands, and adjacent to the coastline/fast ice areas. Air temperatures remain below freezing, as cold as -20°C.
