Underwater camera system for frazil ice studies

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

During the freeze-up period on northern rivers, frazil ice forms in the turbulent portions of the river flow, when the water cools to slightly below zero. These frazil particles are first carried in suspension by the flow, creating something like a 'snowstorm' of ice particles throughout the flow depth. However, they are very adhesive in supercooled water, and will cluster together forming balls of frazil slush that eventually float up to the water surface, forming ice pans. Suspended frazil also readily adheres to natural and man-made surfaces, and this can create significant problems. It can quickly accumulate to constrict or block canals and rivers, causing flooding or interfering with shipping and navigation, and it can clog water intake structures at treatment plants and industrial facilities. At hydroelectric generating stations, water intakes can become completely blocked with frazil, shutting down the power generators for extended periods of time. An improved understanding of frazil transport and deposition would benefit a variety of industries and could also lead to better strategies for mitigating problems. Before we can fully understand frazil development, transport, and deposition, we need to be able to measure these processes and link them to the controlling factors (streamflow hydraulics and weather conditions).