Theoretical analysis of snow-dam decay
Abstract Snow dams have been observed in many stream channels in the Arctic and the sub-Arctic, but there is no theoretical analysis of their decay processes. These processes include snowmelt, seepage erosion, down-cutting, snow-slope failure and flotation of the snow dam. Snowmelt can be determined...
Published in: | Journal of Glaciology |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
1992
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000009722 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000009722 |
id |
crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0022143000009722 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0022143000009722 2024-03-03T08:41:27+00:00 Theoretical analysis of snow-dam decay Xia, Zhaojun Woo, Ming-ko 1992 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000009722 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000009722 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) Journal of Glaciology volume 38, issue 128, page 191-199 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 Earth-Surface Processes journal-article 1992 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000009722 2024-02-08T08:40:37Z Abstract Snow dams have been observed in many stream channels in the Arctic and the sub-Arctic, but there is no theoretical analysis of their decay processes. These processes include snowmelt, seepage erosion, down-cutting, snow-slope failure and flotation of the snow dam. Snowmelt can be determined by the energy balance. Seepage of water will cause serious erosion at the point where the stream or pond level in front of the dam intersects the dam face. Erosion by water overflowing the dam is due to down-cutting, under-cutting and thermal erosion. Down-cutting increases with discharge but decreases with the shear strength of the snow. Where a hydraulic jump occurs downstream of the dam, under-cutting can accelerate dam decay. Thermal erosion, depending mainly on water temperature, may be less significant than the previous two processes. Slope failure occurs when the driving forces exceed the resisting forces, and these are affected by snow property and snow load. When the stream or pond level downstream of the dam rises rapidly, the dam is prone to float. As peak flow often occurs during the break-up period, results of the theoretical study of the mechanisms of snow-dam decay will improve flood forecasting for Arctic streams. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Journal of Glaciology Cambridge University Press Arctic Journal of Glaciology 38 128 191 199 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
topic |
Earth-Surface Processes |
spellingShingle |
Earth-Surface Processes Xia, Zhaojun Woo, Ming-ko Theoretical analysis of snow-dam decay |
topic_facet |
Earth-Surface Processes |
description |
Abstract Snow dams have been observed in many stream channels in the Arctic and the sub-Arctic, but there is no theoretical analysis of their decay processes. These processes include snowmelt, seepage erosion, down-cutting, snow-slope failure and flotation of the snow dam. Snowmelt can be determined by the energy balance. Seepage of water will cause serious erosion at the point where the stream or pond level in front of the dam intersects the dam face. Erosion by water overflowing the dam is due to down-cutting, under-cutting and thermal erosion. Down-cutting increases with discharge but decreases with the shear strength of the snow. Where a hydraulic jump occurs downstream of the dam, under-cutting can accelerate dam decay. Thermal erosion, depending mainly on water temperature, may be less significant than the previous two processes. Slope failure occurs when the driving forces exceed the resisting forces, and these are affected by snow property and snow load. When the stream or pond level downstream of the dam rises rapidly, the dam is prone to float. As peak flow often occurs during the break-up period, results of the theoretical study of the mechanisms of snow-dam decay will improve flood forecasting for Arctic streams. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Xia, Zhaojun Woo, Ming-ko |
author_facet |
Xia, Zhaojun Woo, Ming-ko |
author_sort |
Xia, Zhaojun |
title |
Theoretical analysis of snow-dam decay |
title_short |
Theoretical analysis of snow-dam decay |
title_full |
Theoretical analysis of snow-dam decay |
title_fullStr |
Theoretical analysis of snow-dam decay |
title_full_unstemmed |
Theoretical analysis of snow-dam decay |
title_sort |
theoretical analysis of snow-dam decay |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
1992 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000009722 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000009722 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Journal of Glaciology |
genre_facet |
Arctic Journal of Glaciology |
op_source |
Journal of Glaciology volume 38, issue 128, page 191-199 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000009722 |
container_title |
Journal of Glaciology |
container_volume |
38 |
container_issue |
128 |
container_start_page |
191 |
op_container_end_page |
199 |
_version_ |
1792497190042599424 |