Experimental Studies of Dynamic River Ice Processes

动态河流冰过程的实验研究

• 批准号: RGPIN-2015-04269
• 负责人: Dow, Karen
• 金额: $ 1.75万
• 依托单位: University of Manitoba
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=612868
• 关键词: Experimental; Studies; Dynamic; River; Ice

River ice jams are of major concern to many Canadian communities as they pose a significant threat to both lives and property. Ice jams are dangerous because they can form very rapidly, and typically cause higher flood levels than open water events (e.g. Selkirk, MB). They can also release quickly, creating dangerous surges of ice and water (e.g. Fort McMurray, AB). Flooding in 2009 caused by ice jams on the Red River strained the limits of the province’s flood control infrastructure as adequate predictive models were not available and had to be hurriedly developed in response to rapidly increasing water levels. It is estimated that water levels during the event rose 1.22 m in 4 hours, with a total rise of 2.8 m. This prompted a $4.4 million buyout program for flood-prone properties along the Red River as the dramatic rise in water level made it difficult to adequately warn the local residents. It is important to be able to predict and examine the impacts of these dynamic ice processes so that stakeholders can address issues such as public safety, optimized hydroelectric generation operations, and effects on the aquatic environment. However, numerical models remain in the development stage primarily because of their reliance on subroutines that are based on empirical relationships rather than actual flow physics. The transport and accumulation of ice is of great importance to the formation of ice jams and is considered one of the most complicated problems in river ice engineering because of the complex fluid dynamics surrounding individual ice floes. At present, much of our knowledge of these processes is necessarily qualitative, due to the inherent logistical difficulties and safety issues that arise when trying to measure dynamic ice processes in the field. This is particularly true for ice floe transport under ice jams. The objective of the proposed research program is to investigate river ice jam dynamics to advance our fundamental knowledge of these processes, including a better understanding of the transport of individual ice floes and the formation of ice jams. This will provide essential validation for numerical models currently being developed by others and expand our ability to implement improved numerical models that have a greater physical basis. Four graduate students will be trained under this research program through a series of innovative experiments and will become some of Canada’s future experts in river ice hydraulics.

河冰堵塞是许多加拿大社区关注的主要问题，因为它们对生命和财产构成了重大威胁。冰塞是危险的，因为它们可以非常迅速地形成，并且通常比开放水域事件（例如Selkirk， MB）引起更高的洪水水位。它们也会迅速释放，造成危险的冰和水的涌流（例如AB的麦克默里堡）。2009年，红河上的冰塞造成的洪水使该省的防洪基础设施不堪负荷，因为没有足够的预测模型，不得不匆忙开发以应对迅速上升的水位。据估计，在4小时内，水位上升了1.22米，总水位上升了2.8米。这促使一项440万美元的买断计划，用于红河沿岸易受洪水影响的房产，因为水位的急剧上升使得很难向当地居民发出充分的警告。