Development of a river ice jam by a combined heat loss and hydraulic model

• Main Authors: Eliasson, J., Orri Gröndal, G.
• Other Authors: University of Iceland Reykjavik, National Energy Authority of Iceland
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2008
• Subjects: [SDU.ENVI]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces; environment; [SDU.OCEAN]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean; Atmosphere; [SDU.STU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences; Iceland
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-00298944; https://hal.science/hal-00298944/document; https://hal.science/hal-00298944/file/hessd-5-1021-2008.pdf

International audience This paper discusses and shows the heat loss theory and the hydraulic theory for the analysis of the development of wide channel ice jams. The heat loss theory has been used in Iceland for a long time, while the hydraulic theory largely follows the classical ice-jam build-up theories used in known CFD models. The results are combined in a new method to calculate the maximum thickness and the extent of an ice jam. The results compare favorably to the HEC-RAS model for the development of a very large ice jam in Thjorsa River in Iceland. They are also in good agreement with historical data, collected where a hydroelectric dam project, Urridafoss, is being planned in the Thjorsa River.