Exchange of sea ice between the Arctic Ocean and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago

Abstract

First estimates of sea ice exchange between the Arctic Ocean and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) are obtained using six years (1997–2002) of RADARSAT ice motion. Over the period, the mean annual flux of sea ice area from the Amundsen Gulf (AG), M'Clure Strait (MS), and Queen Elizabeth Islands (QEI) are −85 ± 26 × 103, −20 ± 24 × 103, and 8 ± 6 × 103 km2. Positive/negative sign indicates Arctic outflow/inflow. Overall, net sea ice area is exported from the CAA; rough estimates suggest a mean annual volume flux of ∼102 km3 into the Canada Basin. Ice types are largely seasonal near the AG flux gate, mixed seasonal and multiyear at the MS gate, and primarily multiyear at the QEI gates. Sea ice at the QEI flux gates remains land fast for most of the year. Cross‐strait gradient in sea level pressure explains more than 50% of the variance in the area flux at these passages. The role of ice exchange during the anomalous decrease in multiyear ice coverage in the Sverdrup Basin during September 1998 is examined.