Seasonal Summary for the Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2011
Eastern and High Arctic
Mean air temperatures were near normal over most locations except above normal over the High Arctic and the northern section of Baffin Bay (see Table 2
Seasonal Summary for the Canadian Arctic Waters - Summer 2011
Eastern and High Arctic
Mean air temperatures were near normal over most locations except above normal over the High Arctic and the northern section of Baffin Bay (see Table 2). A light to moderate northerly flow developed over the High Arctic, while light and variable winds dominated over the rest of the Eastern Arctic. With delayed freeze-up during the winter season and thinner than normal ice, the ice started to decay along the eastern edge of the pack ice in Baffin Bay. Nares Strait did consolidate during the winter season which was the first time since 2008. After mid-May, large areas of bergy water developed early in the season over eastern Barrow Strait, western Lancaster Sound and in the extreme northwestern section of Baffin Bay. The rest of the Eastern Arctic was covered with first-year ice, while the ice north and west of Resolute was consolidated. Just before Nares Strait consolidated during the winter season, areas of up to 2 tenths of old ice drifted over the western section of Baffin Bay as far south as Cape Dyer. Very narrow bands of old ice were also observed in Prince Regent Inlet and along the southern shore of Lancaster Sound. Greater than normal ice concentrations of old ice were present over Pelly Bay, northern Jones Sound, southern Norwegian Bay and Eureka Sound. Mid-May ice conditions, as well as the departure from median ice concentrations, are shown in Figure 13 and Figure 14, respectively.
Mean air temperatures were above normal over the whole area (see Table 2). Most of the rapid ice melt occurred over southern and northwestern Baffin Bay, in Lancaster Sound and off the consolidated ice along the eastern shore of Baffin Island. The bergy water lead along the Greenland Coast slowly expanded to lie south of 74°30’N at the end of the month. The ice loosened up very quickly over southern and western Baffin Bay during the second half of June. Consequently, an open drift or less route to Home Bay developed during the last week of June which set a new record as the earliest date since 1968. At the end of the month, an area of first-year ice with up to 2 tenths of old ice was still present over the rest of Baffin Bay and from Prince Regent Inlet to northern Committee Bay. Large areas of bergy water dominated south of the ice bridge in Kane Basin, in eastern Jones Sound and from Lancaster Sound to eastern Barrow Strait. Over these areas, broken fast ice coming out of bays and inlets were present along the shores. The ice bridge over Kane Basin started to fracture over the central section but the rest of the ice remained solid for the whole month. The rest of the Eastern Arctic remained consolidated but some of the ice started to break up over Queens Channel and southwestern Barrow Strait. Mid-June ice conditions, as well as the departure from median ice concentrations, are shown in Figure 15 and Figure 16, respectively.
Mean air temperatures were well ab