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 fast ice within Franz Josef Land experienced significant deterioration this week. Much of the ice across the archipelago has broken away, and expanding holes continue to undermine overall stability. Regional temperatures ranged from 0-2°C, allowing concentrations of 80% and below to develop. The ice edge continues its gradual retreat, while a small area of sea ice persists southeast of Svalbard.
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea still has small pockets of rotten sea ice in the Gulf of Anadyr. The coastline of Saint Lawrence Island still retains significant ice cover. The Bering strait is now ice free.
Canada East
Nares Strait contains old and first-year ice in roughly even proportion. Most of the Strait is now mobile with a small ice bridge in place in its northern section. Eureka Sound and Jones Sound contain first-year ice with a small amount of old ice. Western Baffin Bay consists mainly of bergy water while eastern Baffin Bay contains mostly first-year ice with some old ice in close pack conditions. Western Davis Strait contains first-year ice with some old ice is close pack conditions while its eastern section consists of bergy water. The Labrador Sea is bergy water except its northernmost section which contains first-year ice with some old ice in mostly open drift conditions.
Canada North
Frobisher Bay contains first-year fast ice and old ice at the mouth of the Bay. The Gulf of Boothia contains first-year ice except where a trace of old ice is present north of ~71.5N. Cumberland Sound contains some old and first-year ice in its eastern section and mostly bergy water in its western section.
Canada West
Fast ice, made up of old ice and first-year ice, surrounds the Queen Elizabeth Islands and much of M’Clure Strait. Mobile ice has continued to move into the entrance to M’Clure strait and is primarily old ice, with some first-year and young ice mixed in. M’Clintock Channel, Peel Sound and the western section of Barrow Strait are fast first-year ice with a trace of old ice. The eastern section of Barrow Strait is bergy water. Eastern Amundsen Gulf, Coronation Gulf and Queen Maud Gulf are fast first-year ice that has continued to show signs of rotting. The western part of Amundsen Gulf and northern Franklin Bay have mobile first-year ice and is slowly drifting northwestward. Canada Basin is primarily old ice with some first-year ice present. The Beaufort Sea is predominantly first-year ice along the coast. Old ice mixes into, and eventually dominates, the pack ice further north in the Beaufort Sea. The first-year fast ice along the coast has begun to fracture. Lancaster Sound’s central and eastern sections contain large areas of bergy water along with first-year ice with a trace of old ice in mostly open drift conditions. Fast ice of the same type is present in the Sound’s western section.
Chukchi Sea
Openings continue to expand as melt progresses. Coastal areas of Kotzebue Sound are ice free. A large polynya has opened south of Wrangel Island as a result of westward drift of the pack ice. Fast ice continues to degrade.
East Siberian Sea
The polynya along the New Siberian Islands has expanded northwestward as pack ice continues to melt and drift poleward. Riverine inputs continue to melt the coastally fastened ice.
Greenland Sea
Concentrations in the northern Greenland Sea have eroded slightly, especially at the ice edge. Much of the ice pack in the central and southern regions has moved south. The ice edge has retreated significantly, leaving several coastal areas completely ice free. A lot of fasted areas to the south have become dislodged and melted.
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 with areas of open water along its western shoreline and in the southern part. Hudson Bay comprises first-year ice. Areas of open water are present in northwestern and northeastern Hudson Bay. Western Hudson Strait is characterized by bergy water with first-year fast ice present along the southern shoreline of Baffin Island. Eastern Hudson Strait contains first-year ice with some old ice. Ungava Bay comprises first-year ice with a trace of old ice and an area of bergy water in its southeastern section. Foxe Basin contains first-year ice with some open water areas present in its northern and southern sections.
Kara Sea
Temperatures along the eastern Russian coast range from 6-10°C, accelerating the breakdown of sea ice. Lower concentrations have split the pack ice apart in the southern and northern Kara Sea. A persistent lead remains along the eastern coast of Novaya Zemlya, and the Kara Gates are now fully open. The openings at the Yenisei Gulf and Gulf of Ob have melted significantly over the past week and are now ice free.
Laptev Sea
Openings along the coast continue to form and expand due to riverine discharge and above freezing air temperatures.
Sea of Okhotsk
Sea ice degradation continues in Sakhalin Gulf. The small patch of sea ice in Shelikov Gulf persists.
