Monthly Archives: May 2018

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I love watching the opening of a polynya in satellite data. This is North Water at the NW tip of Greenland expanding over 6 days.  You can see the wind is to the SW and it is both pushing the mobile sea ice away from the fast ice of Nares Strait (the strait is named for George Nares), and the growth of new sea ice.

The Opening of North Water 9-14 May 2018.
The Opening of North Water 9-14 May 2018.

This is the location of North Water. It is a famous polynya and important for the local wildlife and first peoples.

The location of the polynya region.
The location of the polynya region.

The image below from the 14 May 2018 shows streaks of frazil ice. So what you can see is as well as the wind pushing the sea ice away from the fast ice, new sea ice is being generated.

North Water on the 14 May 2018 showing frazil ice streaks.
North Water on the 14 May 2018 showing frazil ice streaks.

One to watch in the next week.