Monitoring ice break-up on the Mackenzie River, Canada, from MODIS Aqua and Terra observations
Abstract
Monitoring the response of river ice phenology to variability and changes in high-latitude climate conditions is critical for improving our understanding of northern hydrology and related impacts on geochemical and biological processes. Shorter ice cover duration, thinner ice, and earlier break-up also influence the winter road season, thereby influencing industrial development and the delivery of goods to northern communities. Increased upstream temperatures over the Mackenzie River Basin have caused shorter ice cover seasons, consequently changing the timing and severity of river ice flow in this high-latitude region. This study involves the analysis of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Level 3 500-m snow products (Aqua and Terra), complemented with 250-m Level 1b data, to monitor ice cover during the break-up period on the Mackenzie River over the 2001-2013 period. Results from the analysis of 10 ice seasons (2003-2012) show that first day ice-off was observed between day of year (DY) 115-125 and ended between DY 145-155, resulting in average melt durations of about 30-40 days. Additional ice-on and ice-off days observed during 2003-2012 resulted from northern flowing entrained river ice that extended the break-up season until DY 155-163. Floating ice flowing northbound could therefore generate multiple periods of ice-cover and ice-free days at the same geographic location. During the ice break-up seasons from 2003-2012, ice melt was initiated by in situ melt over drainage basin (thermodynamic), especially between 61-62o N. However, ice break-up above the 62o N was more dynamically driven. In addition, ice jams were found to be largely controlled by river morphology.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2013
- Bibcode:
- 2013AGUFM.C21D0670M
- Keywords:
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- 0744 CRYOSPHERE Rivers;
- 0758 CRYOSPHERE Remote sensing