Arctic Ice Power Mid March

Previous posts showed 2020 Arctic Ice breaking the 15M km2 ceiling, while wondering whether the ice will have staying power.  “Yes” is the answer, at least through the first third of March.

By end of February, ice extent this year was well above the 13- year average, then dipped lower before growing again surplus to average and other recent years.  This is important since March monthly average is considered the ice extent maximum for the year. Note also the SII is matching and currently exceeding the MASIE estimates.

The chart below shows the distribution of ice across the various regions comprising the Arctic zone.

Region	2020071	Day 071 Average	2020-Ave.	2018071	2020-2018
(0) Northern_Hemisphere	15015552	15016528	-976	14608334	407218
(1) Beaufort_Sea	1070655	1070115	540	1070445	210
(2) Chukchi_Sea	966006	965984	22	966006	0
(3) East_Siberian_Sea	1087137	1087135	3	1087137	0
(4) Laptev_Sea	897845	897645	200	897845	0
(5) Kara_Sea	930542	923821	6721	933916	-3374
(6) Barents_Sea	658816	625730	33086	679863	-21047
(7) Greenland_Sea	617321	624974	-7654	526061	91259
(8) Baffin_Bay_Gulf_of_St._Lawrence	1516513	1597523	-81010	1488350	28163
(9) Canadian_Archipelago	854282	852766	1517	853109	1174
(10) Hudson_Bay	1260903	1259848	1055	1260838	66
(11) Central_Arctic	3248013	3215629	32384	3172178	75835
(12) Bering_Sea	818900	738395	80505	401469	417431
(13) Baltic_Sea	14681	87191	-72510	130767	-116086
(14) Sea_of_Okhotsk	1062110	1048073	14037	1120721	-58611

As of yesterday, Day 2020071 matches the NH 13-year average and also most regions.  Two deficits to average are in Baffin Bay and Baltic Sea, offset by surpluses in Bering and Okhotsk, as well as Central Arctic and Barents Sea. Note current Bering Sea ice is twice the extent in 2018.