Kinematic Model of River Ice Motion During Dynamic Breakup

• Main Authors: Ferrick, Michael G., Weyrick, Patricia B., Nelson, David F.
• Other Authors: COLD REGIONS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LAB HANOVER NH
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1993
• Subjects: Snow; Ice and Permafrost; *ICE FORMATION; *RIVERS; *ICE BREAKUP; KINEMATICS; VELOCITY; MEASUREMENT; THICKNESS; ICE; ACCUMULATION; CONNECTICUT RIVER; HYDRAULIC MODELS; CONVERGENCE; RELEASE; POROSITY; MODELS; MOTION; TRACKING; DISCHARGE RATE; ICE JAMS; PE62334A; PE62784A; WU001AST08AST42; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA273141; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA273141

We begin a study of the dynamics of ice motion during river breakup by formulating a Kinematic model. Ice continuity equations are applied to relate the speeds of a breaking front, convergence front, stoppage front, and release front with the ice discharge and volume per unit surface area (unit volume) on either side of each front. Ice velocity data are obtained from measurements with time made during a dynamic breakup at a pair of sites bounding a reach of the Connecticut River. We simulate the ice and front motion through time for this reach using the kinematic model with the assumptions that accumulation thickness and porosity are uniform, and that changes in the ice conditions and motion occur only at a front. Contrary to the basic assumption of static jam formation, we find that the accumulation develops while the ice is moving, and that jam formation merely represents the arrest of the motion. Front tracking, Ice breakup, Kinematic model, Hydraulic modeling, Ice jams, River ice motion.