Sea Ice - No Sea Ice!?

Observation: In middle of October went ice fishing, then later on, went boating same spot.

UAF International Arctic Research Center Consult: This is a great observation from Elim that highlights the comings and goings of sea ice in coastal locations. In many coastal locations the first ice that forms is often limited to shallow water or areas. These spots can cool faster, since deeper water contains more heat that has to escape first before ice forms. Freshwater also helps ice formation because it freezes at a slightly higher temperature and separates the top water layer from heat further down in the ocean. Such early ice is often not well attached to land, and wind can blow it away from shore. This has been noted for Elim by other observers as well. Sometimes that same wind also brings in warmer water from further offshore, melting back some of the ice. What's unusual in this case is that the ice was thick enough to go out on for ice fishing. Based on other LEO observations from Elim in past years, ice can be moved out again until well into December or January. This year has been particularly warm and on the North Slope, freeze-up has been somewhat delayed because of warmer water and higher air temperatures. The pack ice is now making its way down toward Bering Strait and there's ice covering the inner parts of Kotzebue Sound and Norton Sound, based on the National Weather Service Ice Desk maps: https://www.weather.gov/afc/ice