Author(s): Sean Watt; Michael Hulley
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Frazil ice; Modeling; Field work; Climate change; Mitigation
Abstract: Small communities, located on small watercourses, are threatened by ice flooding. Models can simulate and predict ice flooding events, but have focused on larger watercourses and break-up ice events. Having a model that can predict potential frazil ice events on a smaller scale would allow communities more time to react. Data requirements for ice models include climate data, bathymetry, velocity, depth, and flow. Collecting adequate data for small watercourses can be difficult, and expensive, though correlating site specific short-term data to long-term data sets can be useful in simulating past events, and comparing to current, and future conditions. Climate change will influence ice formation. Changes may improve, or worsen, the potential for frazil ice flooding events. Using a calibrated model, and estimations of future climate change, future ice flooding issues may be identified. The principal goal of this research is to explore the potential for monitoring, modeling, prediction, and options for mitigating ice flood events. The site of interest has experienced numerous ice flood events, and the local municipality has been searching for a reasonable option to predict, and mitigate the potential for flooding, and/or damage from flooding.
Year: 2024