To get better idea, what's going on with the sea ice now, then here's the satellite image from ESA Envisat.
Ice edge is clearly visible. Black stripes are open leads. White areas mark mostly uneven surface and white stripes should be pressure ridges.

Saamaks paremat ülevaadet jääoludest, siis siin on ESA Envisat'i pilt, mis iseloomustab jääolude seisu 14. märtsi seisuga. Triivjää serv on selgelt näha. Mustad ribad on lahvandused. Valged alad enamasti tähendavad ebatasast pinda ja valged ribad omakorda rüsijäävalle.


Posted by Timo

Here's another look in March 2011 and present 2012. It's really seems to go now with scenario that sea ice conditions won't improve much in region of North of Svalbard. Huge polynia still keeps stretching there towards East. There has not been winter what would allow to freeze it.


Siin on järjekordne võrdlus märtsist eelmise ja käesoleva aasta vahel. Näib tõesti, et merejää olud Teravmägede põhjaosas ei parane enam suurt sel aastal. Tohutu lahvandus on endiselt seal ulatumas pikalt ida suunas. Pole olnud sellist talve, mis võimaldanuks sellel külmuda.


Posted by Timo

As you can see on these two images from the same date, but one from the last year and other from the present, things this season around Spitsbergen area doesn't look good at all. Last winter was much more pleasing! Well, if we here in Estonia need to compare first part of the winter from the last and this year, then there is a same story.
But we like to say, there is still hope and we won't give up but continue our routine work and preparations. Things can still improve enough, we need to belive it and stick our plan.

Võrreldes kahte jääkatte kaarti, mis tehtud samal kuupäeval, kuid üks eelmisel ja teine käesoleval aastal, on väga ilmne suur erinevus Teravmägede ümbruse jääkatte oludes. Asjalood meie vaatenurgast ei paista just roosilised. Kuid ega me alla anna, vaid jätkame oma rutiinset ettevalmistustööd. Lootust on alati kuni viimase hetkeni ja asjalood võivad veel talve jooksul paraneda.