From Science Matters

By Ron Clutz

The animation compares Arctic ice extents for day 105 for some years between 2007 and 2023.  2011 was close to the 17-year average, while 2007 was one of the lowest in the record.  The images show extensive variation in the Pacific (left) basins of Bering and Okhotsk, where typically the most open water appears. There are also fluctuations on the Atlantic side, Barents (top right) as well as Greenland Sea and Baffin Bay.  Overall there was recovery from 2007 to 2011, then some years of lesser extents before 2023 returns to the 17 year average, as shown in the table later below.

Over the last 30 days, there were gains and then losses, mostly in the Pacific basins.  The effect on NH total ice extents is presented in the graph below.  

The average ice loss is 787k km2 for this period.  While 2023 started 235k km2 in deficit, yesterday it nearly matched the 17-year average. SII showed even lower ice extents in mid March, before matching MASIE at the end.

The table below shows the distribution of sea ice across the Arctic regions.

Region	2023105	Day 105 Average	2023-Ave.	2007105	2023-2007
(0) Northern_Hemisphere	14088856	14121549	-32693	13588722	500134
(1) Beaufort_Sea	1070966	1069753	1214	1068692	2274
(2) Chukchi_Sea	966006	964603	1403	961638	4369
(3) East_Siberian_Sea	1087137	1085478	1659	1078666	8471
(4) Laptev_Sea	897845	893275	4570	843501	54344
(5) Kara_Sea	933845	922316	11529	890594	43251
(6) Barents_Sea	609466	608807	659	439904	169562
(7) Greenland_Sea	716828	649460	67368	673585	43243
(8) Baffin_Bay_Gulf_of_St._Lawrence	1212523	1283822	-71300	1215526	-3003
(9) Canadian_Archipelago	854843	852840	2002	848812	6031
(10) Hudson_Bay	1260903	1246319	14585	1208588	52315
(11) Central_Arctic	3247017	3232496	14521	3235648	11369
(12) Bering_Sea	642984	647468	-4484	600281	42703
(13) Baltic_Sea	35258	45036	-9779	23534	11723
(14) Sea_of_Okhotsk	550081	614303	-64222	491121	58960

Overall NH extent March 31 was below average by 33k km2, or 0.2%.  The two largest deficits are Sea of Okhotsk and Baffin Bay, partly offset by a surplus in Greenland Sea.  The onset of spring melt is as usual in most regions, with slight surpluses nearly everywhere.