Seasonal and interannual fluctuations in ice exchange between the Arctic Basin and the Straits of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago

Abstract

Direct sea ice exchange between the Arctic Basin and Baffin Bay occurs only via Nares Strait. Ice from the Arctic Basin entering Sverdrup Basin and Parry Channel does not penetrate east of 90–95° W, i.e., it remains within the approaches to the western limits of Lancaster and Jones sounds. The seasonal progress of ice discharge within the straits of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) is very clearly marked, but no definite trends are revealed in the interannual variations. The total annual discharges of ice from the Arctic Basin into the straits of the CAA comprise only 10–15% of the discharge through Fram Strait. But in the summer months the two are quite comparable. This emphasizes the need to take into account the ice exchange between the Arctic Basin and the straits of the CAA in investigating their hydrometeorological regime.