Experiments on Ice Ride-Up and Pile-Up

Abstract

Ice pile-up and ride-up are common occurrences along beaches in the sub-Arctic and Arctic. An understanding of the factors which lead to pile-up is important for design of a defensive strategy to prevent damage to coastal installations.Since ice action on a sloping beach is complex, an experimental model study was undertaken to determine the factors which promote ice pile-up. The factors varied in this study were the freeboard, slope, and roughness of the beach. One experiment was performed to observe the effectiveness of a shore defense structure against ice ride-up.

Mid-Winter Breakout of Landfast Sea Ice and Major Storm Leads to Significant Ice Push Event Along Chukchi Sea Coastline

“…The results of the field surveys and observations document the impacts of block erosion, surge-driven marine flooding, impounding of storm surge and sea ice melt waters, and the landward deposition of eroded material (Figures 8-11). Clear differences in geomorphic impacts, related to variability in coastline topography and stratigraphic characteristics, were apparent between the eastern, central, and western portions of the Cape's shore (Figure 3) (e.g., Sodhi et al, 1983;Barker and Timco, 2016). Geomorphic impacts, by section, are discussed below using field observations as well as the results from the shoreline change analysis.…”

“…These movements of sea ice onshore are termed "ice push, " "ice shove, " or "ice ride-up" events (Kovacs, 1984;Shapiro et al, 1984;Kovacs and Sodhi, 1988;Mahoney et al, 2004) and are referred to in this article generally as either "ivu" or "ice push" (Mason et al, 1997b). Documented impacts of these events include destruction of property and cultural resources (Kinsman and DeRaps, 2012) and impeding safe travel (Sodhi et al, 1983). There is also archeological evidence suggesting an ivu may have caused loss of life (Zimmerman and Aufderheide, 1984).…”

“…However, ice pileup events involve the build-up of fragmented blocks of sea ice incorporated with nearshore sediments and debris into elevated piles. Compared to ride-up events, they have a limited landward extent and are typically greater in elevation (Sodhi et al, 1983). Both processes often occur in combination, depending on the friction of the littoral zone, beach slope, and topography, as well as the integrity, or thickness, of the ice (Sodhi et al, 1983; Barker and Timco, 2016).…”

“…Compared to ride-up events, they have a limited landward extent and are typically greater in elevation (Sodhi et al, 1983). Both processes often occur in combination, depending on the friction of the littoral zone, beach slope, and topography, as well as the integrity, or thickness, of the ice (Sodhi et al, 1983; Barker and Timco, 2016). Ice ride-up and pile-up events can occur throughout the year but are more common in the fall (October-November) or spring (May-June) when there are less stable ice conditions (Leffingwell, 1919;Kovacs and Sodhi, 1980).…”

“…Once the landfast ice is destabilized along a given stretch of coastline, a number of physical processes must take place in order for an ice push to occur. Most importantly, landward momentum must be transferred to the ice at the shoreline such that resistive forces in the nearshore (e.g., gravity, friction) are overcome (Sodhi et al, 1983;Mahoney et al, 2004). This can be caused by stresses due to wind and/or current or a drifting ice floe with substantial kinetic energy (Christensen, 1994; Barker and Timco, 2017).…”