Author(s): G. W. Timco; A. Barker

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Abstract: Ice in nature often piles-up along shorelines, and in some cases can cause extensive damage. Reported pile-up heights vary over a very wide range. In this paper, the question of the maximum pile-up height, and the factors that affect the maximum height are investigated. This is done by compiling information on reported pile-up heights for a wide range of conditions and geographical locations. The data show that ice can pile-up to a height of over 15 m. Further, there is a trend of increasing pile-up height with increasing ice thickness, with an apparent limit of the pile-up height for different ice thickness. A Particle-in-Cell numerical model is used to investigate the factors that affect the pile-up height. The results of this model show that there are three essential factors for a large pile-up height: sufficient driving force, a large fetch area of ice available for feeding the pile-up, and sufficient time for the pile-up to occur. Other factors, such as the shoreline slope, have a less significant impact on the size of the pileup.

DOI:

Year: 2002