Erosion potential of dynamic ice breakup in Lower Athabasca River. Part I: Field measurements and initial quantification

Beltaos, Spyros; Carter, Thomas; Rowsell, Robert; DePalma, Sarah G.S.

doi:10.1016/j.coldregions.2018.01.013

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 78%

“…This extreme rate of rise is one of the highest known to date. Comparable rates of rise have also been recorded in the Restigouche River (~3 m in 6 min; [44]) and the Athabasca River (~4.5 m in 6 min; [18]). Theoretical considerations suggest that the leading-edge celerity of a jave should not exceed the celerity of a gravity wave, Cg, or be less than the celerity of a kinematic wave, Ck, [3,43,45].…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 78%

“…Notably, extreme ice speeds have been reported in this area over the years, the highest being 7.4 m/s [63]. Ice speeds of~5 m/s in the same area and loss of two pressure loggers as a result of entire bank segments being carried away by javes were reported in [18].…”

Section: Javes and Sediment Pulsesmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Bed shear stress can be especially high during the passage of javes because both U and S f are considerably greater than their prejave values. Beltaos et al [18] estimates a bed shear stress of approximately 120 Pa during the passage of a major jave on the lower Athabasca River, a value that was corroborated by more detailed analysis of jave characteristics [19]. By comparison, the highest known discharge in the same reach, which occurred under open-water conditions, generated an estimated bed shear stress of only 35 Pa. Erosional capacity has also been expressed in terms of unit stream power, which is defined as the product τU.…”

Section: Bank and Bed Erosion Potentialmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Factors affecting jave propagation speeds were the interaction of water and ice within the jam, the size of the wave upon release, the distance travelled, channel geometry, downstream ice conditions, and the temporally jamming and re-release of released ice [41]. Detailed documentations of several large javes in the Hay and Athabasca Rivers are presented in [43] and [18], respectively.…”

Section: Javes and Sediment Pulsesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of River-Ice Breakup on Sediment Transport and Implications to Stream Environments: A Review

Beltaos

Burrell²

2021

Water

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During the breakup of river ice covers, a greater potential for erosion occurs due to rising discharge and moving ice and the highly dynamic waves that form upon ice-jam release. Consequently, suspended-sediment concentrations can increase sharply and peak before the arrival of the peak flow. Large spikes in sediment concentrations occasionally occur during the passage of sharp waves resulting from releases of upstream ice jams and the ensuing ice runs. This is important, as river form and function (both geomorphologic and ecological) depend upon sediment erosion and deposition. Yet, sediment monitoring programs often overlook the higher suspended-sediment concentrations and loads that occur during the breakup period owing to data-collection difficulties in the presence of moving ice and ice jams. In this review paper, we introduce basics of river sediment erosion and transport and of relevant phenomena that occur during the breakup of river ice. Datasets of varying volume and detail on measured and inferred suspended-sediment concentrations during the breakup period on different rivers are reviewed and compared. Possible effects of river characteristics on seasonal sediment supply are discussed, and the implications of increased sediment supply are reviewed based on seasonal comparisons. The paper also reviews the environmental significance of increased sediment supply both on water quality and ecosystem functionality.

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Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 78%