ARCTIC OCEAN: Centered approximately on the North Pole, it is the smallest of the world's oceans, covering about 4,732,000 square miles. Maximum depth is 18,050 feet. The ocean is divided into two nearly equal basins: The Eurasia and the Amerasia. The Lomonosov Ridge extends from northeastern Greenland to Central Siberia and separates the basins. The Arctic Ocean is surrounded by landmasses of Eurasia, North America, and Greenland, and is unlike the other three oceans because of the perennial ice cover. The extent of sea ice is seasonal between 60N and 75N latitude, but above 75N it is relatively permanent. Ice cover reduces energy exchange with the atmosphere resulting in reduced precipitation and cold temperatures.

A unique feature of the ice fields of the Arctic Ocean was the discovery in 1946 of large sized ice islands. One of the first major ice islands covered an area of more than 300 square miles. In later years ice islands were extensively tracked to determine current movement. They were also used as scientific research sites for the study of polar meteorology and oceanography.

This material is copied directly from Ocean Talk, a booklet by the US Navy intended to provide the reader a glimpse of a few aspects of oceanography, and bring an awareness of the importance of the sea to our environment and our own well-being.

---

The Arctic Ocean

---

Map of Arctic Ocean bathymetry (jpg, 767 kb) from International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean (IBCAO)

---

Ocean Science and Technology Issues: The Arctic

---

Arctic Climatology Atlas Web Site

---

Arctic Climatology and Meteorology PRIMER for Newcomers to the North

---

Canada's Arctic Marine Environment
From Parks Canada National Marine Conservation Areas

Baffin Bay, arm of the North Atlantic Ocean, between Greenland and several large islands of northeastern Canada. The bay is connected with the Atlantic Ocean by Davis Strait and with the Arctic Ocean by several channels. Ice floes and icebergs prevent navigation for about nine months each year. This material copied directly from Microsoft's Online Encarta Concise Encyclopedia.

Barents Sea, arm of the Arctic Ocean, bounded on the west by the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard and on the east by the two islands of Novaya Zemlya, which belong to Russia. The sea extends north from Norway, Finland, and Russia for about 1450 km (about 900 mi). The Barents Sea is shallow, and the southern part is free of ice all year. Trawlers from northern European ports fish its waters. This material copied directly from Microsoft's Online Encarta Concise Encyclopedia.

Barents Sea, from Nathan Mulherin, Devinder Sodhi, and Elisabeth Smallidge, Northern Sea Route and Ice Breaking Technology: An Overview of Current Conditions. "The Physical Environment," Cold Regions Science & Technology Information Analysis Center

The White Sea is a large extension of the Barents Sea.

Beaufort Sea from Canada's National Marine Conservation Areas Systems Plan, Parks Canada

The Beaufort Sea, from Nathan Mulherin, Devinder Sodhi, and Elisabeth Smallidge, Northern Sea Route and Ice Breaking Technology: An Overview of Current Conditions. "The Physical Environment," Cold Regions Science & Technology Information Analysis Center

Bering Sea, from Nathan Mulherin, Devinder Sodhi, and Elisabeth Smallidge, Northern Sea Route and Ice Breaking Technology: An Overview of Current Conditions. "The Physical Environment," Cold Regions Science & Technology Information Analysis Center

Chukchi Sea (Russia), from Nathan Mulherin, Devinder Sodhi, and Elisabeth Smallidge, Northern Sea Route and Ice Breaking Technology: An Overview of Current Conditions. "The Physical Environment," Cold Regions Science & Technology Information Analysis Center

Chukchi Sea (Alaska), from Nathan Mulherin, Devinder Sodhi, and Elisabeth Smallidge, Northern Sea Route and Ice Breaking Technology: An Overview of Current Conditions. "The Physical Environment," Cold Regions Science & Technology Information Analysis Center

Davis Strait, broad channel, connecting the North Atlantic Ocean and Baffin Bay, and separating Greenland and Baffin Island, northeastern Canada. The strait forms part of the Northwest Passage. The cold Labrador Current flows south through the strait, along the coast of Baffin Island, carrying ice floes with it during most of the year. This material copied directly from Microsoft's Online Encarta Concise Encyclopedia.

Considered a part of the Atlantic Ocean. Lies between Iceland and Greenland. Map. Map2.A slow cascade of cold water beneath the Denmark Strait between Greenland and Iceland sinks 2.2 miles (3.5 km), over three-and-a-half times farther than the tallest waterfall on land, Venezuela's Angel Falls. (source) There are the two ocean currents of opposing direction in Denmark Strait; the cold southflowing East Greenland current and the warmer north flowing Irminger current. (source)

East Siberian Sea, from Nathan Mulherin, Devinder Sodhi, and Elisabeth Smallidge, Northern Sea Route and Ice Breaking Technology: An Overview of Current Conditions. "The Physical Environment," Cold Regions Science & Technology Information Analysis Center

Lies between Greenland and Svalbard, north of Iceland. Map.

Hudson Bay
From Parks Canada National Marine Conservation Areas

Hudson Strait
From Parks Canada National Marine Conservation Areas

Kara Sea, southern arm of the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of Russia, situated between the islands of Novaya Zemlya, Severnaya Zemlya, and the northwestern coast of Siberia in Russia. It has an area of more than 777,000 sq km (300,000 sq mi). Ice-locked for most of the year, the sea is usually a navigable fishing grounds during August and September. The chief ports are Dikson and Tambey. This material copied directly from Microsoft's Online Encarta Concise Encyclopedia.

The Kara Sea is very shallow in the east but relatively deep in the west. Tides are semidiurnal (two times a day) and fairly weak.

Kara Sea, from Nathan Mulherin, Devinder Sodhi, and Elisabeth Smallidge, Northern Sea Route and Ice Breaking Technology: An Overview of Current Conditions. "The Physical Environment," Cold Regions Science & Technology Information Analysis Center

Labrador Sea lies between Greenland and Labrador. Map.

Laptev Sea, from Nathan Mulherin, Devinder Sodhi, and Elisabeth Smallidge, Northern Sea Route and Ice Breaking Technology: An Overview of Current Conditions. "The Physical Environment," Cold Regions Science & Technology Information Analysis Center.

Shallow sea with depths that rarely exceed 300 feet.

A part of the North Atlantic Ocean, lies roughly between Norway, Iceland, and Jan Mayen.