This paper assesses the value and environmental feasibility of Arctic shipping by reviewing relevant scientific economic peer‐reviewed literature. From physical perspective, this examines impact climate change on sea ice marine weather considers resultant consequences for accessibility. an it reviews major research investigating diverting ships from conventional routes to routes, attitudes stakeholders, other factors affecting prospect shipping. review also identifies important gaps....

Abstract Historically, multiyear sea ice (MYI) covered a majority of the Arctic and circulated through Beaufort Gyre for years. However, increased melt in Sea during early 2000s was proposed to have severed this circulation. Constructing regional MYI budget from 1997 2021 reveals that import into has year‐round, yet less now survives summer is transported onwards Gyre. Annual average loss quadrupled over study period ∼7% ∼33% annual Fram Strait export, while peak 2018 (385,000 km 2 ) similar...

Abstract The loss of multiyear sea ice (MYI) in the Arctic Ocean is a significant change that affects all facets environment. Using Lagrangian age product, we examine MYI and quantify annual area budget from 1980 to 2021 as balance export, melt, replenishment. Overall, declined at 72,500 km 2 /yr; however, majority occurred during two stepwise reductions interrupt an otherwise balanced resulted northward contraction pack. First, 1989, atmospheric forcing led +56% anomaly export through Fram...

Abstract The last decade has witnessed the nine lowest Arctic September sea ice extents in observational record. It also forms most recent third of long‐term trend that record, which reached −13.4% −1 2015. While hemispheric analyses paint a compelling picture loss across Arctic, situation with multiyear Beaufort Sea is particularly dire. This study was undertaken light substantial changes have occurred extent summer inferred from passive microwave To better elucidate these at sub‐regional...

The seasonally ice-covered waters of Hudson Bay, James Foxe Basin, and Strait (“the study area”) are bordered by 39 communities with a total population roughly 50,000 people, most whom Inuit or Cree. Sea ice is cornerstone the environment culture area but also main barrier to shipping traffic, which has been growing in area. This paper presents review sea an analysis accessibility as represented timing breakup, freeze-up, open water season its offshore local waters. Offshore was analyzed...

Abstract Heavy ice conditions along Canada's east coast during spring 2017 presented hazardous for the maritime industry and required Canadian Coast Guard to pull its research icebreaker, CCGS Amundsen , off scientific cruise provide escort services conduct search rescue operations Newfoundland's northeast coast. Greater concentrations a thicker pack than are typical of this area created anomalous cover. Within paper we present in situ observations cover, confirming that pieces multiyear sea...

Abstract During September 2016 an ice‐free Beaufort Sea was observed for only the second time. Like previous regional sea ice minima (1998, 2008, and 2012), seasonal preconditioning of pack toward younger, thinner types contributed to premature breakup that accelerated ice‐albedo feedback enhanced summer melt. In 2016, anomalously high export divergence during February April promoted unusual widespread formation new within Beaufort. Thin reached a peak concentration 30% in March, when cover...

The Northwest Passage is often referred to as the “Holy Grail” of ship navigation it provides a shorter route connecting Atlantic and Pacific Oceans compared Northern Sea Route, Panama Canal, Suez transiting around Cape Horn. Here, we summarize 52 years observed multi-year ice (MYI) conditions from 1968 2020 in western Canadian Arctic regions updating previous study that considered 1968–2006. Results indicate on average, MYI area anomalies during shipping season were +28% 2006 but −33% 2007...

Abstract. The Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) serves as both a source and sink for sea ice from the Ocean, while also exporting into Baffin Bay. We use observations Sentinel-1, RADARSAT-2, RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM), CryoSat-2, together with Ice Service charts, to quantify transport replenishment across within CAA 2016 2022. provide first estimates of area volume flux Queen Elizabeth Islands Parry Channel, which spans central region Northwest Passage shipping route. Results...

Over the last few decades, there has been an increasing recognition for seagrasses' contribution to functioning of nearshore ecosystems and climate change mitigation. Nevertheless, seagrass have deteriorating globally at accelerating rate during recent decades. In 2017, research into condition eelgrass (Zostera marina) along eastern coast James Bay, Canada, was initiated in response reports decline by Cree First Nations Eeyou Istchee. As part this research, we compiled analyzed two decades...

Abstract Nares Strait and the channels of Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) act as conduits for sea ice export from Ocean but have never been directly compared. Here, we perform such a comparison both area volume fluxes October 2016 to December 2021. provided largest average seasonal (October through September) flux 95 ± 8 × 10 3 km 2 followed by CAA regions Queen Elizabeth Islands (QEI) at 41 7 M’Clure with corresponding 177 15 , 59 respectively. Larger was associated shorter arch duration...

Abstract During the record September 2012 sea ice minimum, Beaufort Sea became free for first time during observational record. Increased dynamic activity late winter enabled increased open water and seasonal coverage that contributed to negative anomalies positive solar absorption which drove rapid bottom melt loss. As had happened in previous years of exceptionally low extent, anomalous developed May, June, peaked July, persisted into October. However situ observations from a single floe...

Abstract During winter 2017, the semipermanent Beaufort High collapsed and anticyclonic Gyre reversed. The reversal drove eastward ice motion through Western Arctic, causing sea to converge against Banks Island, halted circulation of multiyear via gyre, preventing its replenishment in Sea. Prior reversal, an anomalously thin seasonal cover had formed following ice‐free conditions during September 2016. With onset January convergence uncharacteristic dynamic thickening winter. By end March,...

Abstract. This study presents a long-term winter sea ice thickness proxy-product for the Canadian Arctic based on Random Forest Regression model trained CryoSat-2 observations that provides 25 years of in Beaufort Sea, Baffin Bay, and, first time, Archipelago. An evaluation product with in-situ measurements shows presented proxy correctly estimates magnitudes and accurately captures spatial temporal variability. The within 30 to 50 cm uncertainty. is thinning over most Arctic, mean trend...

This study was motivated by the potential development of offshore oil exploration leases in Canadian Southern Beaufort Sea, an area within Inuvialuit Settlement Region. Sea ice concentration, extent, motion, and thickness data are vital to success operations this region, relevant cannot be gleaned from larger-scale hemispheric studies. We therefore undertook regionally specific sea analyses southern during summer drilling season (July, August, September) 2009 over long-term (1996 – 2010). On...

Through analysis of Canadian Ice Service ice charts, we have characterized the temporal and spatial variability landfast sea (or fast ice) surrounding Hudson Bay James from 2000 to 2019. Over this 19-year period, observed contrasting changes in fast-ice persistence between western eastern sides Bay. Fast trended towards later freeze-up earlier break-up that resulted a shortening season at rate 6 days/decade. Contrastingly, showcased relatively delayed break-up, an overall trend longer 8 The...

Abstract Hudson Bay has warmed over 1 °C in the last 30 years. Coincident with this warming, seasonal patterns have shifted, spring sea ice melting earlier and fall freeze-up occurring later, leading to a month longer of ice-free conditions. This extended period presents significant challenge for polar bears, as it restricts their hunting opportunities seals ability accumulate necessary body weight successful reproduction. Drawing on latest insights from CMIP6, our updated projections...

[1] Six ice beacons deployed in the Beaufort Sea during August 2011 tracked anomalous export of multiyear sea from Chukchi through Bering Strait to between November and May 2012. These are first observations 34 years beacon Strait. Using passive microwave derived motion fields, we find that 2011–2012 southward persisted for a record six seven months speeds were significantly faster than long term mean. The combination increased reduced likelihood arch development strait culminated 13.5 × 103...

Shipping traffic has been increasing in Hudson Strait and Bay the shipping route through these waters to Port of Churchill may soon become a federally-designated transportation corridor. A dataset on passive microwave-based sea ice concentration was used characterize timing corridor between 1980 2014. Efforts were made produce results readily accessible format for stakeholders industry; example, open water defined using threshold ≤ 15% are presented terms real dates instead anomalies....

Abstract Recently, we highlighted the presence of a strong west‐east asymmetry in sea ice thickness across Hudson Bay that is driven by cyclonic circulation. Building on this work, use satellite altimetry and unique set situ observations from three moored upward looking sonars to examine role atmospherically dynamics producing contrasting regional patterns. Ultimately, north‐northwesterly winds coupled with numerous reversals during winter 2016/2017 led thicker southern Bay, while enhanced...

Abstract Recent reductions in the summer extent of sea ice have focused world’s attention on effects climate change. Increased CO2-derived global warming is rapidly shrinking Arctic multi-year pack. This shift regimes allows for increasing development opportunities large oil and gas deposits known to occur throughout Arctic. Here we show that hazardous features remain a threat stationary mobile infrastructure southern Beaufort Sea. With opening up pack, forecasting high-frequency...