This paper describes the spatial and temporal variability of strength in a typical river-ice cover during the pre-breakup period affected by radiation decay. Strength was determined using the borehole jack – a field-portable ice indentor system. Two cover types were analyzed: a granular white-ice/freeze-up jam and a columnar black-ice cover. Despite a protracted period of intense radiation, the strength of the highly-reflective ice in the freeze-up jam experienced no measurable change. The low-albedo, highly-transparent columnar cover, however, decreased in strength by approximately 50 % due primarily to the development of inter-granular void space. Changes are related to porosity and a comparison made to previous theoretical and laboratory work. Spatial variations in strength are discussed with respect to break-up advance and ice jamming. Possible control of break-up through modification of freeze-up processes is also presented.
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Research Article|
April 01 1993
Strength Variability of Major River-Ice Types: Paper presented at the 9th Northern Res. Basin Symposium/Workshop (Whitehorse/Dawson/Inuvik, Canada - August 1992)
Hydrology Research (1993) 24 (2-3): 169–182.
Article history
Received:
September 25 1992
Revision Received:
February 04 1993
Accepted:
February 12 1993
Citation
T.D. Prowse, M.N. Demuth; Strength Variability of Major River-Ice Types: Paper presented at the 9th Northern Res. Basin Symposium/Workshop (Whitehorse/Dawson/Inuvik, Canada - August 1992). Hydrology Research 1 April 1993; 24 (2-3): 169–182. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.1993.0020
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