Investigating the Impact of River Ice on Sediment Transport Processes

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In cold northern climates river ice can impact water bodies for nearly half of the year. The complex interaction between the local weather and hydraulic conditions has the potential to create many different types of ice, each of which have a different impact on sediment transport. Although sediment transport processes have been well-studied for open water conditions, the more complex hydraulic conditions created by different ice conditions such as a partial ice cover or a river ice jam have an unknown impact on sediment transport. ******To address the overall goal of increasing our understanding of the interaction between sediment transport and river ice processes, this program will use a combination of cutting-edge experiments with a time resolved tomographic particle image velocimetry system and complimentary sediment transport experiments in a larger flume. The proposed research will be comprised of two research themes that are well-suited to my past experience, and will leverage the current research facilities available. The long-term objective is to use the results and physical understanding from this fundamental research to quantitatively evaluate and improve the ability of existing mathematical models to estimate sediment transport rates under different types of ice covers. This will be incorporated into a two-dimensional comprehensive river ice numerical model in the future, which will be of social and economic significance to engineers within Canada and abroad. ******Throughout the course of this research program a total of 10 HQP will receive training, including 2 Ph.D. students, 2 M.Sc. students, 5 undergraduate students and 1 technician. They will acquire an advanced understanding of the turbulent flow conditions involved with river ice and sediment transport that will be transferrable to any area of hydraulic engineering which will allow them to pursue successful careers with engineering consulting companies, hydroelectric companies, and research or government agencies tasked with water resources engineering.*******River ice has a substantial, yet poorly understood, impact on sediment transport in rivers that will undoubtedly have negative environmental impacts which we currently ignore. This research will provide a significant leap forward in terms of our understanding of the complex turbulent flow conditions associated with ice jams and partial ice covers, and will represent the first major project focusing on this topic. The resulting mathematical and numerical modelling techniques to estimate sediment transport rates under ice will greatly assist with the development of more rigorous environmental impact statements for upcoming hydroelectric generating stations and other river control structures, and help us to be better water resource users as a nation.***