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Northwest Passage is nearly ice-free, NASA reports

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Top image shows Northwest Passage on Aug. 9, 2016, while bottom image shows more ice on Aug. 9, 2013 (Photos: NASA’s Earth Observatory)
Update: Regent Seven Seas Cruises has canceled its 2017 Northwest Passage itinerary. Crystal Serenity's current voyage through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago exemplifies the growing human presence in an increasingly ice-free Northwest Passage. In mid-August, the southern route through the Passage was nearly ice-free, according to NASA's Earth Observatory.

An Aug. 9 NASA satellite image (top, at left) shows a path of open water along most of the distance from the Amundsen Gulf to Baffin Bay.

NASA sea ice scientist Walt Meier attributed that to the warm winter and spring which resulted in thinner seasonal ice that can melt more easily, break up and move out of the channels.

A scattering of broken ice is visible just east of Victoria Island. 'It looks pretty thin and disintegrating,' Meier said in an Earth Observatory post. 'I think an ice-strengthened ship could get through without too much trouble.'

The open water this year flows along the southern or 'Amundsen route.' The Earth Observatory noted that at some point in almost every summer since 2007, conditions along the southern passage have been fairly open. There have been exceptions; a NASA image from Aug. 9, 2013 (bottom, above), shows 'relatively extensive' ice.

A vivid image-view comparison is here.

Crystal Serenity's voyage, which began Aug. 16 at Seward, Alaska, and is scheduled to stretch 32 days until arrival at New York City on Sept. 16, would appear well-timed.

What’s left of the ice is opening up fast; Meier expects the Passage will open completely in the next couple weeks.

In any case, to be on the safe side, Crystal Serenity is escorted by the icebreaker RSS Ernest Shackleton. (Crystal Serenity voyage updates and destination highlights are being posted on the company's blog, the Crystal Insider. Seatrade Cruise News also will be reporting from a portion of the journey, starting the last week of August.)

Earth Observatory noted a a strong Arctic cyclone appears to be approaching the archipelago which could push the ice around and open still-blocked channels—or, have the opposite effect and push in ice from the north.

Crystal Cruises has already scheduled a second Northwest Passage transit in August 2017. Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which had announced a transit on Seven Seas Navigator in July next year, has canceled that cruise.

'The climate variance this summer caused large Arctic ice packs to flow southerly during the month of July, causing transit delays,' a Regent spokesman said. 'To avoid these delays next year, our Northwest Passage navigational experts have strongly recommended postponing the cruise to mid-August. Unfortunately, this is not possible due to the impact it would have on all subsequent itineraries offered on Seven Seas Navigator.'

Passengers who were booked on the itinerary will automatically receive a $1,000 future cruise credit that can be applied to any Regent voyage in 2016 or 2017.