A Sea Ice Entrapment Event in the Southern Chukchi Sea: Analysis and Prediction
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Amplified Arctic warming is reducing sea ice cover, which is driving an increase in geopolitical interest in the region as it offers the possibility of reducing shipping times between Asia, Europe, and eastern North America, at the risk of increased ice hazards. Here, we examine the case of the Norseman II research ship that was trapped by sea ice in the southern Chukchi Sea for 14 days in June 2024. This is the first study of its sort in this region. We show that anomalously thick and extensive sea ice was present north of the region prior to the event, and that strong northerly winds in early June advected this ice southward, trapping the ship. Later in June, southerly winds advected ice northwards away from the ship, helping to free it. We further show that the event was forecastable.
Source: Geophysical Research Letters
DOI: 10.1029/2025gl121181
Institutions: University of Toronto, University of Washington, University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Alaska Fairbanks, International Arctic Research Center, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA National Weather Service, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Language: English
Subfield: Atmospheric Science
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,190
Awards: G1042130937, G1090959111, G1793229655, Collaborative Research: CAS-MNP: Sea ice-ocean exchange of Arctic microplastics: linking small scales to the large-scale system, G2538734804, G3153789621, G3248498714, NNA Track 1: Arctic impacts and reverberations of expanding global maritime trade routes, G3534511335, G4504108201, G4720003262, G5658077998, G7898378645, G8174765099, G8876996369, G8929337198
OpenAlex ID: W7166328688