Sea ice is creeping toward the city from the east in the Beaufort Sea, but to find sea ice in the Chukchi, the Sikuliaq would have to head northwest for about 200 miles (322 kilometres). Sea ice is also a one of the most important physical elements of the Chukchi and Bering seas. When sea ice melts, it creates conditions important for the development of microorganisms at the base of the food web. Female walruses with young use sea ice as a resting platform and follow the ice edge south as it moves into the Bering Sea. Forecasting sea ice is notoriously difficult but Thoman, the ex-weather forecaster, said he expects a less than robust year for sea ice.

Source: thestar November 19, 2019 06:11 UTC