Author(s): Sergio Gomez; Karl-Erich Lindenschmidt; Michael Lynch; Keenan Nicholson; Renee Antle
Linked Author(s): Karl-Erich Lindenschmidt
Keywords: Ice-cover cracks; Ice-jam formation; RIVICE; Synthetic Aperture Radar; SNAP
Abstract:
This study delves into the relationship between ice-jam formation and ice-cover cracks, providing insights into their interaction during the 2018-2019 winter breakup along the lower Churchill River in Labrador. The analysis focuses on the utilization of SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) Sentinel-1 and COSMO-SkyMed satellite imagery, tools that, owing to their independence from the study area's weather conditions, allow for a comprehensive examination of ice dynamics. The methodology extends to the application of the RIVICE ice model to recreate specific winter conditions surrounding an ice jam event. The objective is to identify correlations between ice cover cracks and the occurrence of ice jams. Water level and flow data from available gauges positioned along the Churchill River are employed to identify the formation of ice jams. Initially, image processing is conducted using the SNAP tool to achieve the best contrast between ice cover, open water, and sand bars present in this river section. This approach facilitates the identification of cracks and ice movement throughout the season. Once the fracture locations are known, the calibrated RIVICE model is executed, constraining the location of the ice jam’s toe within a stochastic modelling framework. By comparing the backwater elevation with observed water level data, the correlation between fracture locations and the ice jam's toe location can be examined. The results of this study will enhance the prediction ability of ice jam locations, thereby improving flood risk analysis for rivers with morphology like the Churchill River.
Year: 2024