Advances in river ice hydrology

Abstract

River ice is present in nearly all Canadian rivers, for periods ranging from days to many months. Whether moving or stationary, it interacts with the river flow in various ways, resulting in multiple impacts on the economy and ecosystem, and posing a major flood threat to riverside communities. In the past 4 years, Canadian research and development efforts have been directed at a variety of problems. A strong focus on ice breakup and ice jam processes resulted in improved understanding of the salient geomorphological and hydroclimatic factors, enhanced modelling and prediction capabilities, and development of techniques for in situ measurement of ice jam properties. Key contributions in the area of ecological impacts of river ice and ice jams have led not only to solid advances in knowledge, but also to an appreciation of the vast scope of this subject and its numerous links to environmental science. A closely related topic, the flux of suspended sediment in ice-laden rivers was studied for the first time, in order to delineate the effects of the ice on sediment and associated contaminant loads. In response to growing concern about climate change and variability, several studies addressed implications to ice regime, and thence, to ecology and economy. Although not fully explored, the potential impacts appear to be numerous and significant, owing to the high sensitivity of river ice processes to climatic factors. In the foreseeable future, research is likely to continue along the above noted lines, although an increased emphasis on climatic and ecological aspects is probable. Insights gained on the mechanisms of breakup and jamming may lead to increased modelling applications and testing of theoretical concepts.