Wind Waves Conditions Along the Northern Sea Route

The study analyzes wind waves in the Arctic seas of Russia along the Northern Sea Route (NSR). Data on wind wave parameters were obtained from the WAVEWATCH III model and NCEP/CFSR/CFSv2 reanalysis for the period from 1979 to 2023. Parameters such as significant waves height, wind speed and direction, and the duration of the ice-free period were considered. Estimates of the trends values for the parameters over 45 years have also been obtained. The minimum duration of the ice-free period is about 65 days and is observed on the NSR in the East Siberian Sea. The average annual significant wave height during the ice-free period exceeds 2 m in the Barents Sea, 1.4 m in the Chukchi Sea, and does not exceed 1.2 m for rest of the route. On the NSR, trends for the duration of the ice-free period are positive and amount to 15–20 days over 10 years. The minimum values of trends in the duration of the ice-free period are observed in the area of the Vilkitsky Strait. The maximum trend value for wave height in the ice-free period is 0.14 m over 10 years and is observed in the western Laptev Sea. The second maximum of 0.12 m/10 years was recorded in the East Siberian Sea. The trends for wind speed are positive along the entire route. Analysis of wind speed and wave height for a point in the Laptev Sea showed that the probable cause of wave growth is associated with an increase in wind speed, not in fetch.