Ice charts - West Greenland

In Greenland, the sea ice west of Greenland (except for a small amount of 'Storisen' in the most southern part that has travelled a bit around Cape Farewell) is called west ice.

When the west ice is at its maximum extent, it covers the majority of the Baffin Bay.

In the Northernmost regions around Qaanaaq (Thule), in most years, Navigation is only possible from July through September, while Aasiaat (Egedesminde) and Ilulissat (Jakobshavn) normally can be reached by ship from mid-May till mid-September. Thus, the production of ice charts covering the West Greenland Waters is adjusted according to seasonal demand.

• Front page
• Overview charts (pdf)
• International ice codes (Egg code)

Regional ice charts from

• Cape Farewell
• East Greenland
• West Greenland

West Greenland

West Greenland, color (pdf)

• 21/05-2012 10:10
• 16/05-2012 10:00
• 14/05-2012 10:00
• 11/05-2012 10:00
• 09/05-2012 14:05
• 09/05-2012 10:15
• 04/05-2012 10:00
• 01/05-2012 21:25
• 27/04-2012 10:10
• 24/04-2012 09:55

West Greenland, B-W (pdf)

• 21/05-2012 10:10
• 16/05-2012 10:00
• 14/05-2012 10:00
• 11/05-2012 10:00
• 09/05-2012 14:05
• 09/05-2012 10:15
• 04/05-2012 10:00
• 01/05-2012 21:25
• 27/04-2012 10:10
• 24/04-2012 09:55

Unlike the sea ice east of Greenland (which consists mostly of ice formed in the Polar Sea that drifts southwards along the coast) the west ice is formed locally during winter. West of Greenland, it is therefore rarely possible to observe more than a few types of sea ice at a time.

As in all other parts of the Greenland Waters, icebergs are found year round west of Greenland.

However, around Qeqertarsuaq (Disko) icebergs are sometimes found in exceptionally large quantities. This is due to the presence of some of the worlds most productive glaciers in this particular region. Typically, the icebergs are transported northwards along the coast by the West Greenland Current. Afterwards, they drift towards the Canadian coast following a north facing curve, and finally they drift southwards with the Labrador Sea Current along the Canadian coast.