See also:

Temperatures at Aklavik
 
Temperatures at Shingle Point
 
Summer temperatures in Northern Yukon
 

Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Co-op

What is happening?

• The upper graph shows the smallest size of the yearly sea ice coverage in the Western Arctic based on satellite measurements on August 15th. Overall it appears that the extent of sea ice coverage is decreasing but there is lots of year to year variation.
• The lower graph shows the length of the open water season (defined as 60% ice cover or less).
• In 1998 there was a strong El Nino weather pattern and western Canada enjoyed a mild fall and winter. The sea ice coverage was very reduced this year and the length of the open water season was longer than normal.

Why is it happening?

• Sea ice is not only affected by air temperature, but by other factors such as wind, snow cover, sunshine, sea temperature and the saltiness of the sea. Over time, changes in air temperature are one of the most important influences on the amount of sea ice.
• The reduction in minimum ice coverage in the Western Arctic may be a reflection of the warming climate however with only three decades of measurements we cannot be completely sure whether this trend is due to natural variations in Arctic climate or long-term climate change.

Why is it important?

• People in northern communities depend on sea ice for hunting, fishing and travel. In some areas, it has been noted that travel over ice has become less predictable and more dangerous making hunting more difficult.
• The Beaufort coastline is particularly sensitive to wave erosion. A longer ice-free season increases the exposure of these coastlines to high waves from storms.
• Sea ice is essential to the survival of many Arctic animals such as seals and polar bears. As sea ice coverage contracts polar bears leaving the Beaufort Sea coast may have further to swim to reach the ice pack.
• Sea ice can also present hazards to shipping and offshore oil production. A longer ice-free season and reduced sea ice extent may provide greater shipping opportunities (local and trans-Arctic) and greater access to northern resources. This may result in challenges to Canada's sovereignty over its Arctic waters.

Technical Notes

• Neither trend in minimum sea ice coverage over time or season length over time is significant (at p.<0.05.)
• Data were obtained from Environment Canada's Canadian Ice Service. The data were derived from regional composite weekly ice charts. Ice chart data derived from RADARSAT satellite measurements.
• The Western Arctic study area includes Viscount Melville Sound, the Beaufort Sea and the Western Arctic Waterway.

Click here to show / hide the Western Arctic study area (in red)