Map 1
Decadal average minimum or maximum sea ice extent, from the 1980s to the 2010s

Map description

The title of the map is "Decadal average minimum or maximum sea ice extent, from the 1980s to the 2010s"

This map provides a visual representation of the percentage decrease in decadal average minimum sea ice in the Arctic Ocean, as well as the decadal average maximum sea ice extent in the Atlantic Ocean. These values are displayed per marine bioregion in Canada.

On the image, there is one large map of Canada and two legends. On the map, marine bioregions are outlined in blue and labelled with a numeric code. The marine bioregions are coloured with violet, the intensity of which corresponds to its percentage decrease in decadal average minimum or maximum sea ice extent. Marine bioregions presenting the decadal average maximum statistic (Atlantic bioregions) are hatched. The bioregions without hatching present the decadal average minimum statistic (Arctic bioregions). Dashed grey lines show provincial and territorial boundaries. A legend in the upper right corner describes how information is displayed on the map, and the legend under the map provides the name of the marine bioregion corresponding to each numeric code.

The map shows that the highest percentage decrease (greater than 40.0% to 65.0%) in decadal average minimum sea ice extent from the 1980s to the 2010s occurred in the Eastern Arctic and Hudson Bay Complex, with the Scotian Shelf falling into the same percent decrease category for the decadal average maximum. The Western Arctic experienced a decrease in decadal average minimum sea ice extent between 30.0% and 40.0%. The Gulf of St. Lawrence experienced a decrease in decadal average maximum between 20.0% and 30.0%, and the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves experienced a decrease between 10.0% and 20.0%. In the lowest percentage change category (6.4% to 10.0%) were the Arctic Basin and the Arctic Archipelago.

Note(s): Bioregions 1 through 4 (Pacific bioregions) are not presented on this map because sea ice does not form there.

Source(s): Environment Accounts and Statistics Division.