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 grow and develop along the ice edge. The majority of the Barents Sea remains ice free.
Bering Sea
Ice formation and development continued over the last week in Norton Sound and the Gulf of Anadyr, with young ice beginning to develop in sheltered bays and inlets in these areas. Additionally, new ice is beginning to form in sheltered bays within the Karaginsky Gulf.
Canada East
The Nansen Sound and Greely Fiord have consolidated to first-year with some second and multi-year ice. Eureka Sound has also consolidated with mostly first-year ice with some second and multi-year ice. Norwegian Bay contains mostly young ice with a trace of multi-year ice in the eastern and southern parts while the rest of the bay has some multi-year and second-year ice embedded in mostly thin first-year and young ice. Young and first-year ice continue to develop between the floes of multi-year ice in Massey Sound and south of Ellef Ringnes Island. Penny Strait and western Queen’s Channel contain mostly young ice with some multi-year second-year ice. The eastern side of Queen’s Channel contains young ice with a trace of multi-year ice. Davis Strait and Cumberland Sound are bergy water. Frobisher Bay contains bergy water. The Labrador Sea is bergy water.
Canada North
The Arctic Ocean is composed mainly of multi-year ice, with some second-year ice present. Nares Strait has mostly multi-year ice with some second-year ice present as well as some young ice. Multi-year and second-year ice embedded within young ice is present in extreme northwestern Baffin Bay, Jones Sound and Barrow Strait. Lancaster Sound, Pond Inlet, and Navy Board Inlet have new and young ice with a trace of multi-year ice. Otherwise, the rest of Baffin Bay is bergy water except along the western coast of Greenland north of Disko Bay where new and some young is present. Prince Regent Inlet is completely covered in new and grey ice. Gulf of Boothia and Fury and Hecla Strait is mostly bergy water with some areas of new and grey ice along parts of the coast.
Canada West
The Queen Elizabeth Islands comprise multi-year, second year and young ice. Young ice continues to develop throughout the region. 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 new and young ice with lesser amounts of multi-year and second-year ice. A substantial mix of new and 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 along the eastern coast of Victoria Island. Bergy water is present from Amundsen Gulf to Rasmussen Bassin and then north to about 73 N. New ice is forming contiguously along the Alaskan, Yukon and Northwest Territories coasts. Beaufort Sea has mostly multi-year, second-year, and young ice. Pervasive new ice formation is present along the ice pack boundary. Northeastern Canada Basin is mostly multi-year ice.
Chukchi Sea
Strong southerly winds mid-week last week caused some deterioration of the ice edge in the central Chukchi Sea. Multi year ice has drifted westward from the Beaufort Sea to 168°W and other patch of multi year ice to drift southward from the High Arctic and East Siberian Sea. Air temperatures over the sea ice range from freezing to as cold as -18°C allowing for normal to rapid sea ice thickness growth. New ice continues to slowly form along the Alaskan coastline especially in protected bays and behind barrier islands.
East Siberian Sea
Slight southwestern movement of the pack ice was observed over the past week in the East Siberian Sea. Pack ice continues to thicken as air temperatures ranging from -26°C to -20°C continue to dominate over the region.
Greenland Sea
Pack ice continues southward movement, with the ice edge now retreating approximately 30 nautical miles since last week.
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 ice-free except for a small amount of new ice on the west coast, south of Arviat. James Bay is ice-free. Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay contain bergy water. Lake Melville is ice-free. There is new ice along the coastal areas of northeastern Foxe Basin. Southern Foxe Basin is ice-free with some patches of new ice in sheltered bays.
Kara Sea
Sea ice continues to grow within the inlets of the Kara Sea. Fast ice is present in some bays especially in the Gulf of Orb. New ice growth has occurred along the coastline of Novaya Zemlya.
Laptev Sea
Much of the Laptev Sea is now covered with sea ice of 80-100% concentration. Fast ice coverage in Khatangskiy Zaliv continues to slowly increase.
Sea of Japan
Ice formed in the northern Strait of Tartar due to recent cold temperatures.
Sea of Okhotsk
Ice development continues in Sheikhov Gulf. Ice is also forming in sheltered bays and inlets of Sakhalin Gulf and along eastern Sakhalin Island.
