Canadian Ice Service
Seasonal Summary
for the Canadian Arctic
Summer 2009
Produced by the Canadian Ice Service November 06th, 2009
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-1- Canadian Ice Service
Table of Contents Hudson and Foxe ...... 4 June 2009...... 4 July 2009 ...... 5 August 2009 ...... 5 September 2009 ...... 6 Eastern and High Arctic...... 12 June 2009...... 12 July 2009 ...... 13 August 2009 ...... 13 September 2009 ...... 14 Western and Central Arctic ...... 21 June 2009...... 21 July 2009 ...... 22 August 2009 ...... 23 September 2009 ...... 23
List of Tables Table 1: Temperatures and departures from normal (ºC) for Hudson Bay ...... 7 Table 2: Temperatures and departures from normal (ºC) for Eastern Arctic ...... 16 Table 3: Temperatures and departures from normal (ºC) for Western Arctic ...... 25
List of Figures Figure 1: Temperature trend for Churchill from June 1st to September 30th ...... 7 Figure 2: Temperature trend for Iqaluit from June 1st to September 30th...... 7 Figure 3: Hudson Bay Regional chart - June 15th...... 8 Figure 4: Departure from normal ice concentration for Hudson Bay - June 15th...... 8 Figure 5: Hudson Bay Regional chart - July 13th ...... 9 Figure 6: Departure from normal ice concentration for Hudson Bay - July 13th ...... 9 Figure 7: Hudson Bay Regional chart - August 10th ...... 10 Figure 8: Departure from normal ice concentration for Hudson Bay - August 10th ...... 10 Figure 9: Hudson Bay Regional chart - September 14th ...... 11 Figure 10: Departure from normal ice concentration for Hudson Bay - September 14th 11 Figure 11: Temperature trend for Resolute from June 1st to September 30th ...... 16 Figure 12: Temperature trend for Clyde from June 1st to September 30th ...... 16 Figure 13: Eastern Arctic Regional chart - June 15th ...... 17 Figure 14: Departure from normal ice concentration for Eastern Arctic - June 15th ...... 17 Figure 15: Eastern Arctic Regional chart - July 13th ...... 18 Figure 16: Departure from normal ice concentration for Eastern Arctic - July 13th ...... 18 Figure 17: Eastern Arctic Regional chart - August 10th...... 19 Figure 18: Departure from normal ice concentration for Eastern Arctic - August 10th ... 19 Figure 19: Eastern Arctic Regional chart - September 14th ...... 20
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-2- Canadian Ice Service
Figure 20: Departure from normal ice concentration for Eastern Arctic - September 14th ...... 20 Figure 21: Temperature trend for Tuktoyaktuk from June 1st to September 30th ...... 25 Figure 22: Temperature trend for Cambridge Bay from June 1st to September 30th...... 25 Figure 23: Western Arctic Regional chart - June 15th ...... 26 Figure 24: Departure from normal ice concentration for Western Arctic - June 15th ...... 26 Figure 25: Western Arctic Regional chart - July 13th ...... 27 Figure 26: Departure from normal ice concentration for Western Arctic - July 13th ...... 27 Figure 27: Western Arctic Regional chart - August 10th...... 28 Figure 28: Departure from normal ice concentration for Western Arctic - August 10th .. 28 Figure 29: Western Arctic Regional chart - September 14th ...... 29 Figure 30: Departure from normal ice concentration for Western Arctic - September 14th ...... 29 Figure 31: 1000 mb pattern for June 1-15 and June 16-30 ...... 30 Figure 32: 1000 mb pattern for July 1-15 and July 16-31...... 31 Figure 33: 1000 mb pattern for August 1-15 and August 16-31 ...... 32 Figure 34: 1000 mb pattern for September 1-15 and September 16-30...... 33
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-3- Canadian Ice Service
Hudson and Foxe
Mean air temperatures during May were near normal values over northern locations except below normal over the coastal regions of Hudson Bay, southern Hudson Strait and the Labrador Coast. The only concrete evidence of this trend was along the Labrador Coast where the ice edge was slightly further east than normal. Otherwise, the breakup pattern by the end of May indicated near normal conditions over most areas. In spite of near normal temperatures, an earlier than normal breakup (by 2 to 3 weeks) was noticeable along the northwestern portion of Hudson Bay and the northern half of Hudson Strait. Even the northwestern part of Foxe Basin showed a large region of open water while the ice in the southern portion of the basin was abnormally mobile for the period.
June 2009 Near normal temperatures were observed over most areas except for a warmer than normal region over northwest Hudson Bay. Churchill however, remained colder than normal through June as indicated in Table 1. Light to moderate easterly winds dominated along the east coast regions while light to moderate westerly winds dominated over Hudson Bay and Foxe Basin as indicated in Figure 31. Consequently, ice melted at a normal pace almost everywhere maintaining the earlier trend described in May.
During the first half of June, the ice became increasingly mobile over northern Hudson Bay, through Hudson Strait and over the southern Foxe Basin region. Meanwhile the ice edge along the Davis Strait region lay slightly further offshore than usual and the ice along the Labrador Coast extended much further south than normal even though the ice had melted completely in Goose Bay by mid-June. Some of the old ice in Davis Strait invaded Hudson Strait as far west as Big Island. During the last half of the month, prevailing offshore winds along the east coast gradually pushed the ice away from the shore increasing the perception that ice lay further offshore than normal. Meanwhile, in Hudson Bay, cooler northerly winds dominated the region and kept the ice from melting normally, especially along the eastern shore of Hudson Bay where a delayed breakup by up to 2 weeks was seen. On the other hand, the ice in southern Foxe Basin was more mobile than normally and started to drift through Foxe Channel into Hudson Strait 2 to 3 weeks prematurely. Frobisher Bay was in a class by itself, at the onset of June, the ice had already started to clear and much of the bay was bergy water in the second week of June except for the western end which still had fast ice. However, subsequent onshore flow moved the ice back into the bay creating local areas of tougher ice conditions. Amongst this ice, one could find one to two tenths of old ice originating from the east coast of Baffin Island. At the end of June, the breakup was delayed by 2 to 3 weeks along the eastern shore of Hudson Bay and the ice lay further offshore and further south than normal along the Labrador Coast. However, the northern portion of Hudson Bay, southern Foxe Basin and western half of Hudson Strait all exhibited signs of an early breakup by 2 to 3 weeks.
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-4- Canadian Ice Service
Ice conditions as well as departure from normal ice concentration for mid-June are shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4, respectively.
July 2009 Mean temperatures were above normal over northeastern Hudson Bay, Foxe Basin and Hudson Strait and near normal almost elsewhere. Once again, Churchill and the entire southwestern shore of Hudson Bay remained colder than normal throughout July as indicated in Table 1. During the first half of the month, moderate northeast winds dominated the Hudson Bay region while light southerly prevailed along the Labrador Coast. During the last half of July, moderate easterly winds prevailed over Hudson Bay while winds were lighter and more variable elsewhere as seen in Figure 32.
During the first two weeks of July, the ice rapidly cleared from the eastern shore of Hudson Bay returning the breakup pattern to normal in this region. However, the ice piled up in the central portion of the bay and along its southwestern shore giving rise to a delayed breakup in those areas. Over Hudson Strait, Foxe Basin and the eastern Coast of Baffin Island, the warmer temperature spell helped melt the ice rapidly. By mid-July, the ice had almost melted completely from the Labrador Coast, a large portion of Hudson Strait and all of northern Hudson Bay and most of Frobisher Bay and Cumberland Sound. Ice in heavy concentrations remained along the east coast of Baffin Island north of 63°N; however, the ice was increasingly mobile in Foxe Basin. The eastern ice edge in Davis Strait remained further offshore than normal. During the second half of the month, moderate easterly winds in Hudson Bay helped lower the ice concentration in the central portion of the bay while maintaining heavier concentrations along and near the southwestern shore including the western half of James Bay. The breakup pattern in those areas was delayed by 2 to 3 weeks. Elsewhere in Hudson Strait and northern Hudson Bay, the ice had melted away except for a small patch in Ungava Bay. In Foxe Basin and Davis Strait, the ice concentrations continued to diminish gradually. The eastern ice edge in Davis Strait persisted further offshore than normal while being mixed with one to two tenths of old ice.
Ice conditions as well as departure from normal ice concentration for mid-July are shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6, respectively.
August 2009 Colder than normal temperatures persisted over southern Hudson Bay throughout August, but became progressively warmer further north as indicated in Table 1. Light to moderate northwest winds prevailed over southern Hudson Bay during the first half of the month while lighter northerly wind dominated the last half. Elsewhere in Foxe Basin and Davis Strait, light southeast winds early in August gave way to light to moderate northwesterly during the second half of the month as indicated in Figure 33.
The remaining ice in Frobisher Bay quickly melted early in the month but other areas, namely southern Hudson Bay and James Bay still had significantly more ice than normal. By mid-August, areas of heavy ice concentrations were still showing in the
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-5- Canadian Ice Service
southern portion of Hudson Bay and into northwestern James Bay; at that point, the breakup pattern was delayed by 3 weeks in those regions. In Davis Strait, much of the ice had melted except for a few patches lingering along the coast north of the entrance to Cumberland Sound. In Foxe Basin, the ice concentration kept decreasing as time passed. The breakup pattern was two to three weeks early in the southern section of the basin and the open water route into Hall Beach occurred 10 days earlier than normal. During the last half of the month, the ice cleared completely from the Davis Strait region, but small areas of ice still persisted in southern Hudson Bay and into western James Bay. At the end of August, the breakup pattern in southern Hudson Bay was 4 weeks behind normal.
Ice conditions as well as departure from normal ice concentration for mid-August are shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8, respectively.
September 2009 Near normal temperatures were observed over the eastern half of the region while above normal temperatures were observed over the western half of Hudson Bay and Foxe Basin as can be seen in Table 1. Moderate winds from the west-northwest prevailed over all regions throughout September as can be seen in Figure 34.
The ice finally cleared from southern Hudson Bay and James Bay at the end of the first week of September; these dates were respectively 4 and 5 weeks behind normal and established a new record for the James Bay area. At this point, no more ice was visible on the Hudson Bay regional chart; however, small patches of ice did linger in the northern section of Foxe Basin. The prevailing wind and ice conditions in Committee Bay were responsible for a steady, albeit light, supply of first-year ice into northwestern Foxe Basin via Fury and Hecla Strait. With this ice supply, the clearing of Foxe Basin never occurred before new ice started to form in the northern bays during the last week of the month.
Ice conditions as well as departure from normal ice concentration for mid- September are shown in Figure 9 and Figure 10, respectively.
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-6- Canadian Ice Service
Table 1: Temperatures and departures from normal (ºC) for Hudson Bay June July August September Stations Temp. Depart. Temp. Depart. Temp. Depart. Temp. Depart. Nain 5.3 -0.8 9.0 -1.1 10.3 -0.3 8.2 1.5 Iqaluit 3.6 0.1 10.3 2.8 7.2 0.4 2.0 -0.2 Kuujjuaq 7.7 0.7 12.7 1.4 10.7 0.2 6.3 0.7 Cape Dorset 2.4 0.1 10.8 3.7 7.1 1.3 1.6 0.2 Churchill 3.5 -3.1 8.8 -3.0 11.3 -0.2 9.4 3.7 Moosonee 13.0 0.6 16.1 0.4 14.0 -0.9 12.3 1.8 Kuujjuarapik 7.3 0.4 15.4 4.8 10.5 0.8 8.6 1.3 Hall Beach 0.7 0.1 6.8 1.0 6.1 1.6 0.4 0.9
Figure 1: Temperature trend for Churchill from June 1st to September 30th Daily Temperatures/Normals for YYQ 2009-Jun-01 to 2009-Sep-30 25
20
15
10
5
0
-5 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 31 5 10 15 20 25 31 5 10 15 20 25 30 JUN JUL AUG SEP
Figure 2: Temperature trend for Iqaluit from June 1st to September 30th Daily Temperatures/Normals for YFB 2009-Jun-01 to 2009-Sep-30 25
20
15
10
5
0
-5 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 31 5 10 15 20 25 31 5 10 15 20 25 30 JUN JUL AUG SEP
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-7- Canadian Ice Service
Figure 3: Hudson Bay Regional chart - June 15th
Figure 4: Departure from normal ice concentration for Hudson Bay - June 15th
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-8- Canadian Ice Service
Figure 5: Hudson Bay Regional chart - July 13th
Figure 6: Departure from normal ice concentration for Hudson Bay - July 13th
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-9- Canadian Ice Service
Figure 7: Hudson Bay Regional chart - August 10th
Figure 8: Departure from normal ice concentration for Hudson Bay - August 10th
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-10- Canadian Ice Service
Figure 9: Hudson Bay Regional chart - September 14th
Figure 10: Departure from normal ice concentration for Hudson Bay - September 14th
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-11- Canadian Ice Service
Eastern and High Arctic
Mean air temperatures in May were above normal over Baffin Bay and the east coast of Baffin and Ellesmere Islands while remaining near normal over the western portions of the region. The main oddity this year was the formation of an early ice bridge in the Lincoln Sea near mid-January instead of its usual location across Smith Sound. As a result, ice conditions at the end of May were unusual to say the least. Although the breakup pattern was near normal in several western locations, it was 3 to 4 weeks earlier than normal over Baffin Bay, Kane Basin, Lancaster Sound and the west coast of Greenland. The early bridge formation resulted in the gradual depletion of old ice in Nares Strait; on the other hand, somewhat higher than normal concentrations of old ice were observed in the western half of Baffin Bay. Neither of Prince Regent Inlet or eastern Barrow Strait consolidated during the winter months.
June 2009 Above normal temperatures prevailed over the western region of the High Arctic, along Lancaster Sound and into Pond Inlet; elsewhere temperatures were near normal as indicated in Table 2. During the first half of June, light easterly winds dominated the entire region and gradually strengthened to moderate easterly during the last half of the month as seen in Figure 31. The prevailing winds helped widened the lead along the Greenland Coast during June. The ice melted at a moderate to rapid pace over Baffin Bay, Kane Basin and Lancaster Sound as these regions already showed signs of a very early breakup. Elsewhere, the ice conditions were relatively normal.
Early in the month, the ice thinned out rapidly in Melville Bay giving rise to a new record for an early bergy water route across northern Baffin Bay. The Lincoln Sea ice bridge persisted throughout the month. Most of the ice south of the bridge flushed out of Nares Strait and the lack of ice in northern Baffin Bay helped the clearing of Lancaster Sound. By mid-June, ice conditions were so unusual in the Eastern Arctic that a vessel could have sailed – in bergy waters – all the way to the edge of the Arctic Ocean or into Resolute Bay. Meanwhile, some of the fast ice in the Canadian Archipelago started to fracture in the vicinity of existing polynias. Elsewhere in Baffin Bay, areas of higher concentrations of old ice continued their southward drift. The central section of Cumberland Sound started to clear early in June and the coastal fast ice began to fracture near mid-month. During the second half of June, the easterly winds maintained close to very close pack ice concentrations along the east coast of Baffin Island; patches containing more old ice began to spread further south in Davis Strait. Elsewhere, northern Baffin Bay, Lancaster Sound and Nares Strait remained mostly bergy water except for the odd patch of ice breaking off from the nearby fast ice. Inside the archipelago, the ice became increasingly mobile in Penny Strait while the northern portion of Prince Regent Inlet flushed out east of Bylot Island via southern Lancaster Sound. In Cumberland Sound, most of the ice had moved out, however, the easterly wind eventually brought in more ice along the northern shore of the Sound. Because of the Lincoln Sea ice arch, the Kane Basin region established new record minimum historical ice coverage every week in June. As for the eastern Baffin Bay region, record
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-12- Canadian Ice Service minimum ice coverage was only established during the last two weeks of June. However, both these geographical regions established new minimum accumulated historical ice coverage for the entire month of June.
Ice conditions as well as departure from normal ice concentration for mid-June are shown in Figure 13 and Figure 14, respectively.
July 2009 Above normal temperatures prevailed over all locations during July but Baffin Island was the warmest spot in the Eastern Arctic with +4 to +5°C anomalies as indicated in Table 2. Positive anomalies over the ice regions diminished rapidly but remained 1 to 2°C above normal. Light southwesterly winds developed over the Eastern Arctic region during the first half of July while light northeast winds prevailed over the High Arctic regions. During the second half of July, light to moderate southerly winds dominated the entire region as indicated in Figure 32. The ice melted at a moderate pace over most areas during the period.
Early in July, the warm southwesterly winds affected the main Baffin Bay ice pack in a positive way. Concentrations quickly diminished from very close pack to close pack with looser ice conditions along the ice edge. Old ice concentrations within the main ice area ranged from trace amount covering large regions to 4 tenths old ice in smaller areas. At this point, the old ice concentration in Davis Strait was lower than in the previous month, but the overall ice extent having 1 tenth of old ice had broadened. Elsewhere, the moderate melt rate was loosening the ice and fracturing fast ice in several areas. The Lincoln Sea arch collapsed during the second week of July, and increasing concentrations of old ice from the Arctic Ocean gradually poured into Nares Strait. The western half of Barrow Strait fractured roughly during the same time. Elsewhere, in the archipelago, most of the ice remained fast while mobile ice regions slowly grew in size. Much of the ice covering Prince Regent Inlet and the Gulf of Boothia was remained surprisingly intact during that period. During the second half of July, the deterioration of the Baffin Bay ice pack accelerated and all coastal fast ice fractured. Ice concentrations ranged between close pack near the shore to very open drift towards the edge which extended out 120-150 miles offshore. This situation was slightly abnormal for the Davis Strait ice edge which normally extends 60-90 miles out. Only a trace of old ice laced the northern sections but 1 to 2 tenths old ice were fairly common south of Home Bay. In the western portion of the Eastern Arctic, the warm southerly winds melted the ice in the Pelly Bay area but the very close pack ice concentrations in Prince Regent Inlet and the Gulf of Boothia refused to melt during most of July. Further north within the archipelago, the fast ice had fractured in many regions except for the northern half of Norwegian Bay.
Ice conditions as well as departure from normal ice concentration for mid-July are shown in Figure 15 and Figure 16, respectively.
August 2009 Above normal temperatures prevailed everywhere for a second consecutive month. In August, the warmest anomalies were located over most western sectors as
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-13- Canadian Ice Service
indicated in Table 2. During all of August, light to moderate southerly winds prevailed over the eastern half of the Eastern Arctic while light to moderate northerly winds affected the western regions. Light and variable winds dominated the High Arctic region during the entire month as indicated in Figure 33. The ice melted at a moderate pace over most areas during the period but at a slower pace over the western sector of the Eastern Arctic.
In early August, very open to open drift concentrations including 1 tenth of old ice dominated western Baffin Bay region and gradually melted; similar concentrations were seen in Davis Strait although most areas were mixed with up to 2 tenths of old ice. The ice edge continued to lay further east than normal. Further north in Nares Strait, 4 to 8 tenths concentrations of old ice originating from the Arctic Ocean drifted southward and reached the southern tip of Ellesmere Island by mid-month. In Prince Regent Inlet and the Gulf of Boothia, the ice slowly melted but persistent north winds prevented the ice from flushing into Lancaster Sound. Consequently, more ice than normal appeared in these area as the month progressed. Amongst the archipelago, almost all fast ice had fractured by mid-August. The ice in Penny Strait became increasingly mobile but managed to melt completely before it reached Lancaster Sound. The western Barrow Strait region remained relatively free of ice during the period. During the last half of the month, all ice melted in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait. A steady flow of old ice, with slightly heavier concentration than normal, persisted in Nares Strait; however, all of the old ice melted by the time it reached the entrance to Jones Sound. In the Archipelago, the Nansen Strait ice plug fractured early in the period – for a third successive year – and more old ice invaded the northern portion of Eureka Sound; most of the ice in Eureka Sound and northern Norwegian Bay melted by the end of August However, above normal ice concentrations were seen in the southern half of Norwegian Bay. In the Gulf of Boothia, the prevailing northerly winds compressed the left over ice near the entrance to Pelly Bay and some ice remained in the Committee Bay region. Although, the amount of ice in the Committee Bay was still less than normal, the amount of ice near Pelly Bay was heavier than normal for the period.
Ice conditions as well as departure from normal ice concentration for mid-August are shown in Figure 17 and Figure 18, respectively.
September 2009 Near normal temperatures prevailed over the eastern locations but remained above normal, albeit below freezing, in the western regions as indicated in Table 2. Light to moderate northwest winds dominated over the entire region during September as indicated in Figure 34. Freeze-up over the High Arctic was delayed by about one week due to a warm summer while in the areas south of 75°N, the freeze up was delayed by about 2 weeks; however, the freeze-up pattern remained normal in the areas where the ice failed to melt completely.
During the first half of September, bergy water dominated the regions south of Jones Sound while new and thin ice gradually formed and thickened amongst the first-year and old ice in the High Arctic regions. Old ice from Nares Strait had spread across the
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-14- Canadian Ice Service
northern entrance to Lancaster Sound, but only in very open drift concentrations. The old ice atop of Penny Strait gradually drifted southwards and some ice even trickled in Wellington Channel and McDougall Sound. In the Eastern Arctic region, ice in the Gulf of Boothia and Committee Bay was still present and in significant concentrations, in the entrance to Pelly Bay and eastern part of Committee Bay. As a result, some first-year ice moved into Fury and Hecla and spilled into northwestern Foxe Basin. During the last half of the month, the ice situation was similar except that grey ice dominated the High Arctic regions while new ice appeared over most Eastern Arctic areas where first-year and old ice was still present. The ice in the Gulf of Boothia and Committee Bay never melted this summer; this was the first time in the past 3 summers that ice failed to melt completely in the southernmost regions.
Ice conditions as well as departure from the normal ice concentration for mid- September are shown in Figure 19 and Figure 20, respectively.
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-15- Canadian Ice Service
Table 2: Temperatures and departures from normal (ºC) for Eastern Arctic
June July August September Stations Temp. Depart. Temp. Depart. Temp. Depart. Temp. Depart. Eureka 4.0 2.3 8.0 2.5 5.6 3.2 -5.4 2.5 Resolute 1.0 1.4 5.4 1.4 4.8 3.4 -3.5 1.5 Pond Inlet 3.9 2.3 10.0 4.2 7.1 3.1 -0.8 1.0 Clyde 1.2 0.7 7.0 2.8 5.8 2.0 0.0 0.3 Hall Beach 0.7 0.1 6.8 1.0 6.1 1.6 0.4 0.9 Kugaaruk 2.3 -0.6 12.7 4.0 8.8 2.4 m m
Figure 11: Temperature trend for Resolute from June 1st to September 30th Daily Temperatures/Normals for YRB 2009-Jun-01 to 2009-Sep-30 15
10
5
0
-5
-10
-15 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 31 5 10 15 20 25 31 5 10 15 20 25 30 JUN JUL AUG SEP
Figure 12: Temperature trend for Clyde from June 1st to September 30th Daily Temperatures/Normals for YCY 2009-Jun-01 to 2009-Sep-30 20
15
10
5
0
-5
-10 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 31 5 10 15 20 25 31 5 10 15 20 25 30 JUN JUL AUG SEP
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-16- Canadian Ice Service
Figure 13: Eastern Arctic Regional chart - June 15th
Figure 14: Departure from normal ice concentration for Eastern Arctic - June 15th
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-17- Canadian Ice Service
Figure 15: Eastern Arctic Regional chart - July 13th
Figure 16: Departure from normal ice concentration for Eastern Arctic - July 13th
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-18- Canadian Ice Service
Figure 17: Eastern Arctic Regional chart - August 10th
Figure 18: Departure from normal ice concentration for Eastern Arctic - August 10th
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-19- Canadian Ice Service
Figure 19: Eastern Arctic Regional chart - September 14th
Figure 20: Departure from normal ice concentration for Eastern Arctic - September 14th
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-20- Canadian Ice Service
Western and Central Arctic
Mean air temperatures during the month of May were above normal values west of 140°W, near normal over the Canadian portion of the Western Arctic extending eastward to Amundsen Gulf and colder than normal over the Central Arctic regions. As early as mid-May, the breakup pattern showed an anomaly of ice concentrations in the eastern Barrow Strait region which is typically covered with fast ice at this time. Elsewhere, the pattern was normal. At the end of May, the breakup pattern in the Central Arctic was normal except 2 to 3 weeks earlier than normal in eastern Barrow Strait as open water conditions prevailed. In the Western Arctic, the mobile ice pack in the Beaufort Sea was causing open water leads to develop off the fast ice edge at the western edge of Amundsen Gulf. The southern extent of the old ice in the Western Arctic was further south and in heavier concentrations than normal east of 145°W. Although the southern extent of the old ice was near normal further west along the Alaskan Coast, the concentration of old ice was much below normal in the eastern portion of the Beaufort Sea. In the Central Arctic, more old ice than normal was seen in Franklin Strait, eastern half of Larsen Sound, Penny Strait and Byam Martin Channel.
June 2009
Colder than normal temperatures prevailed over all locations during the month of June except for near normal temperatures over the western portion of the Beaufort Sea as indicated in Table 3. Moderate easterly winds dominated all sectors during June as indicated in Figure 31. The ice melted at a slow pace during the period as the air temperature barely rose above the freezing mark over some Central Arctic region. The Western Arctic mean temperatures were a bit warmer and climbed above freezing earlier during the month.
The Central Arctic portion remained consolidated throughout June except for local thaw holes which developed and grew larger in Penny Strait. The ice in Amundsen Gulf fractured during the last week of June while the open water conditions in eastern Barrow Strait persisted throughout the month. The situation was quite different in the Western Arctic region; the lead observed west of Amundsen Gulf widened during the month under prevailing easterly winds; a lead also developed and widened west of Banks Island and off the entrance to M’Clure Strait. The edge of the old ice lay roughly 60 miles north of the Canadian and Alaskan coast. The old ice concentration was heavier than normal in the extreme southeastern Beaufort Sea region and gradually became much less than normal over the western portion of the Beaufort Sea west of 145°W. By the end of the month a 30-mile wide coastal lead had developed between the coast and the southern edge of the Beaufort Sea ice pack from Mackenzie Bay westward to near Prudhoe Bay. However, part of the coast was still encumbered by fast ice and one could not go around Point Barrow without going through very close pack ice concentration. The breakup pattern was 3 to 4 weeks earlier than normal in the southern Beaufort Sea region and west of Banks Island while near normal elsewhere. In spite of this early pattern, the southern extent of the old ice pack in the southeastern portion of the Beaufort Sea remained further south than normal throughout June.
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-21- Canadian Ice Service
Ice conditions as well as departure from normal ice concentration for mid-June are shown in Figure 23 and Figure 24, respectively.
July 2009
Above to near normal temperatures prevailed over the coastal region of Alaska and the Central Arctic regions east of Cambridge Bay; however, below normal temperatures persisted elsewhere throughout July as indicated in Table 3. Cape Parry established an all-time record minimum temperature anomaly for July. Light northerly winds prevailed over the Central Arctic during the first half of July while the Western Arctic had light to moderate northerly winds in the eastern sectors and light to moderate southerly winds in the western sectors. During the last half of July, the Central arctic experienced light to moderate southerly winds while the Western Arctic continued to be influenced by light to moderate northeasterly winds in the eastern sectors and moderate easterly winds along the Alaskan Coast as indicated in Figure 32. The ice melted at a moderate pace during the period.
The ice in the Central Arctic region remained mostly consolidated at the beginning of the month. Some ice fractures developed towards mid-July in the Dolphin and Union Strait a nd Coronation Gulf regions. Similarly, the ice in western Barrow Strait fractured after mid-month and all the ice surrounding Cornwallis Island became increasingly mobile throughout the last weeks of July. It was only during the last week of July that the ice fractured along the southern route of the Northwest Passage; ice conditions in eastern Larsen Sound were tougher than the previous 3 years due to unusual concentrations of old ice. Meanwhile, the ice in the western half of Amundsen Gulf flushed out in the Beaufort Sea and the ice in the eastern half persisted through July. After mid-month, ice concentrations in the eastern portion of Amundsen Gulf, in Dease Strait and most of Queen Maud Gulf remained heavier than normal. By the end of the month, the breakup pattern was nearly 2 weeks behind normal in these portions of the Central Arctic while 2-4 weeks earlier than normal in Barrow Strait. In the Western Arctic, the prevailing northerly winds in the eastern sectors pushed the old ice and the ice pack southward much closer to the coast than usual off the Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula and Mackenzie Bay region. However, further west along the Alaskan Coast, the coastal lead grew larger as the first- year ice melted along the southern edge of the Arctic ice pack. By mid-July, an open drift or less route had developed along the northern coast of Alaskan and this coastal route became open water during the last 10 days of the month. Some ice did move back towards the coast near the end of July, but only in the areas west of Point Barrow. During the entire month, the main ice pack concentrations remained very close pack while the concentrations diminished rapidly near the edges. Most of the old ice was reported east of 140°W while increasing concentration of first-year ice offset the diminishing concentrations of old ice west of 140°W. At the end of July, most of the north Alaskan Coast and southern Chukchi Sea had much less ice concentrations than normal; the breakup pattern was 3 to 4 weeks ahead of normal in these areas.
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-22- Canadian Ice Service
Ice conditions as well as departure from normal ice concentration for mid-July are shown in Figure 25 and Figure 26, respectively.
August 2009
Near normal temperatures prevailed over most of the Western Arctic during August except for below normal temperatures between Mackenzie Bay and Barter Island. Above normal temperatures prevailed over most Central Arctic regions as indicated in Table 3. Light northerly winds developed over the Central Arctic region during the first half of the month while light easterly winds affected the Western Arctic regions. Light southerly winds dominated the last half of August in the Central Arctic while light southwesterly prevailed over the Western Arctic as indicated in Figure 33. The ice melted at a moderate pace during the period.
The ice in the Central Arctic gradually melted throughout August but two distinct regions stood out. Firstly, the ice in eastern Amundsen Gulf slowly funneled into Dolphin and Union Strait and did not melt until the very last week of August. This was very unusual and required special ice warnings to be issued during a 2 week period. Secondly, the Larsen Sound and Victoria Strait regions melted normally, albeit a bit more slowly than the previous summers. The unusually high concentration of old ice this year definitely played a significant role in the summer melt pattern. The southern route of the Northwest Passage was navigable after the third week of August but remained ice encumbered northeast and northwest of King Williams Island. Over the western Arctic, the southern edge of the ice – which was predominantly old ice by then – remained abnormally close to the shore between Mackenzie Bay and Barter Island. Although old ice was in very open drift concentrations, the proximity of old ice to the coast came to a few miles. The eastern half of the Canada Basin and Beaufort Sea contained mostly old ice while their western halves contained increasing concentrations of first-year ice as we reached the western ice edge. The eastern portion of the Chukchi Sea was unusually open compared to the climate means; however, it resembled the conditions seen during the summer of 2008 except for the high amount of ice in southeastern Beaufort Sea where ice was almost inexistent last summer.
Ice conditions as well as departure from normal ice concentration for mid-August are shown in Figure 27 and Figure 28, respectively.
September 2009
Above normal temperatures prevailed over all areas during September as indicated in Table 3 except for near normal temperatures over the southeastern Beaufort Sea region where the main old ice pack persisted. Light winds prevailed over all regions during the first half of the month. During the last half, moderate northerly winds dominated the Central Arctic while moderate northeasterly winds affected the Western Arctic as indicated in Figure 34. The ice continued to melt over the southern
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-23- Canadian Ice Service regions of the Western and Central Arctic during the first two weeks of September; this also corresponds to time when the minimum sea ice extent was achieved this year. In the higher latitudes new ice started to form after mid-September amongst the remaining old and gradually spread southward over most areas where first-year and old ice persisted. The onset of the freeze-up period over the Beaufort Sea ice pack was near normal but a 1 to 2 week delay was noted in the southern regions of the Central Arctic due to recent above normal temperature trends.
During the first half of September in the Central Arctic, the ice continued to melt near King Williams Island; the southern route of the Northwest Passage finally became open water during the third week of September – but only for 2 days. Meanwhile, old ice in eastern Parry Channel invaded northern Peel Sound and blocked that portion of the passage. Old ice concentrations in Penny strait increased during the last half of the month and open drift concentrations moved into McDougall Sound, Wellington Channel which spilled into Barrow Strait. In the Western Arctic, the very open drift old ice concentrations in the southern Beaufort Sea finally melted and the southern edge slowly retreated further offshore along the Alaskan Coast. In spite of this last melt, more old ice than normal persisted along the Alaskan Coast between Barter Island and Prudhoe Bay during the last half of September. In the main Arctic ice pack, the eastern half was composed of mostly very close pack old and first-year ice while the concentrations of old ice declined sharply between 140°W and 150°W. By the end of the month, the eastern portion of the Chukchi Sea was still mostly open water.
Ice conditions as well as departure from normal ice concentration for mid- September are shown in Figure 29 and Figure 30, respectively.
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-24- Canadian Ice Service
Table 3: Temperatures and departures from normal (ºC) for Western Arctic
June July August September Stations Temp. Depart. Temp. Depart. Temp. Depart. Temp. Depart. Gjoa Haven 0.0 -1.5 7.1 -0.4 6.2 0.6 1.4 1.7 Cambridge Bay 1.2 -1.0 7.4 -0.7 8.1 1.9 1.7 2.3 Kugluktuk 3.9 -1.0 8.5 -1.9 9.4 0.8 4.8 2.2 Tuktoyaktuk 5.3 -0.9 9.0 -2.0 9.0 -0.1 4.2 1.5 Point Barrow 2.2 -0.1 6.8 2.5 5.5 2.4 1.7 2.4
Figure 21: Temperature trend for Tuktoyaktuk from June 1st to September 30th Daily Temperatures/Normals for YUB 2009-Jun-01 to 2009-Sep-30 25
20
15
10
5
0
-5 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 31 5 10 15 20 25 31 5 10 15 20 25 30 JUN JUL AUG SEP
Figure 22: Temperature trend for Cambridge Bay from June 1st to September 30th Daily Temperatures/Normals for YCB 2009-Jun-01 to 2009-Sep-30 15
10
5
0
-5
-10 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 31 5 10 15 20 25 31 5 10 15 20 25 30 JUN JUL AUG SEP
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-25- Canadian Ice Service
Figure 23: Western Arctic Regional chart - June 15th
Figure 24: Departure from normal ice concentration for Western Arctic - June 15th
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-26- Canadian Ice Service
Figure 25: Western Arctic Regional chart - July 13th
Figure 26: Departure from normal ice concentration for Western Arctic - July 13th
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-27- Canadian Ice Service
Figure 27: Western Arctic Regional chart - August 10th
Figure 28: Departure from normal ice concentration for Western Arctic - August 10th
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-28- Canadian Ice Service
Figure 29: Western Arctic Regional chart - September 14th
Figure 30: Departure from normal ice concentration for Western Arctic - September 14th
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-29- Canadian Ice Service
Figure 31: 1000 mb pattern for June 1-15 and June 16-30
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-30- Canadian Ice Service
Figure 32: 1000 mb pattern for July 1-15 and July 16-31
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-31- Canadian Ice Service
Figure 33: 1000 mb pattern for August 1-15 and August 16-31
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-32- Canadian Ice Service
Figure 34: 1000 mb pattern for September 1-15 and September 16-30
Seasonal Summary - Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2009
-33-