Arctic Basin Marine Ecozone (CEC)

The Arctic Basin Marine Ecozone, as defined by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), is a Canadian marine ecozone encompassing the northwestern areas of waters on the Arctic continental shelf. It is bitterly cold and permanently covered in ice. Polar nights and the midnight sun may last months in this region, which has come to characterize the stereotype of the north.[1] Its only land contact is with the northern coast of Ellesmere Island.[2] Because of this, there are no inhabitants in this zone. All human activity here involves scientific excursions, petroleum exploration,[3] rare hunting groups and extreme adventurers.[4]

Arctic Basin Marine
Broken pieces of Arctic sea ice with a snow cover
Ecology
BordersArctic Archipelago Marine
Geography
CountryCanada
TerritoryNorthwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon
Oceans or seasArctic Ocean

Geography

Ice floes that are kilometres long and several metres thick are common in this Arctic Ocean ecozone.[3] Undersea, the dominant feature is the deep Canada Basin, extending from the Beaufort Sea to the North Pole to depths reaching 3,600 m.[2] The Lomonosov Ridge represents its northern submarine extent.

Climate

The region is arid, receiving between 100 and 200 mm of annual precipitation, mostly snow. Mean January temperatures are -30 to -35 °C,[2] though wind chill makes it appear significantly colder.

References
  1. "The Giant Ice Cap". Arctic Basin Marine Ecozone. Environment Canada. Archived from the original on December 12, 2006. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
  2. "Landforms and Climate of the Arctic Basin Marine Ecozone". Arctic Basin Marine Ecozone. Environment Canada. Archived from the original on July 3, 2004. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
  3. Bernhardt, Torsten. "Arctic Basin Marine". Canada's Ecozones, Canadian Biodiversity project. McGill University, Redpath Museum. Archived from the original on 20 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
  4. "Human Activities in the Arctic Basin Marine Ecozone". Arctic Basin Marine Ecozone. Environment Canada. Archived from the original on March 26, 2004. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
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