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Anomalously deep polar low pressure system north of Greenland, and ice breakup in northeastern Baffin Bay

By Scott Bachmeier •

NOAA-20 VIIRS Day/Night Band (0.7 µm) images with an overlay of satellite-derived Atmospheric Motion Vectors during the 25-26 May period (courtesy Rich Dworak, CIMSS) [click to play animated GIF]

CIMSS research scientist Rich Dworak sent along a sequence of NOAA-20 VIIRS Day/Night Band images (above) that included satellite-derived Atmospheric Motion Vectors — which depicted an anomalously deep polar low just north of Greenland during the 25-26 May 2026 period.

Another feature of interest seen in the Day/Night Band imagery was the breakup of ice in the northeastern portion of Baffin Bay — which was also evident in a Blended Ice Concentration product from the VIIRS Enterprise Ice Products site (below). The ice-free North Water Polynya was also very apparent.

Blended Sea Ice Concentration images on 25 May and 26 May [click to enlarge]

According to products from the Canadian Ice Service on 25 May (below), the Ice Concentration was only 1/10th to 3/10ths across much of the northern part of Baffin Bay, with large areas of <1/10th ice concentration (having an Ice Stage classification of Icebergs) within the North Water Polynya.

Ice Stage and Ice Concentration on 25 May [click to enlarge]

The Ice Concentration Departure From Normal was substantially negative (shades of red) in northern and northeastern/eastern portions of Baffin Bay (below).

Ice Concentration Departure From Normal on 25 May [click to enlarge]

Categories: Arctic, Cryosphere, NOAA-20, Satellite winds, VIIRS