https://cripe.ca/publications/proceedings/workshop-22

Rafat A., and Pour H. K. (2023) Monitoring the formation and growth of lake ice under heavy snowfall, Proceedings of the 22nd Workshop on the Hydraulics of Ice Covered Rivers (2023) Canmore, Alberta https://cripe.ca/publications/proceedings/workshop-22

Freshwater ice in the Northwest Territories, Canada serves as vital transportation infrastructure for local communities in winter. Lake ice in the Yellowknife region is heavily relied for transportation via ice roads, crossings, and winter trails- many of which traverse small lakes. However, there is currently a lack of in-situ data on the evolution of lake ice in the region, particularly during freeze-up/break-up periods when ice has a low bearing capacity. To address this knowledge gap, this study aimed to design, construct, and deploy a floating research station equipped with an automated ice sensor in a small subarctic lake, located ~12 km north of Yellowknife within the Baker Creek Research Watershed. The study was conducted between October-December 2022. Results show that freeze-up and sequent ice growth were uncharacteristically driven by snow-ice production, in contrast to thermal ice growth, because of extreme snowfall in October and November 2022. The evolution of the ice cover between October-December 2022 is framed in the context of a case study for comparing ice formation and growth during a year of significant snowfall to ice growth in a low snowfall year (November-December 2021). Findings provide insight into potential new regimes and evolutions of ice under shifting snowfall patterns in Yellowknife.

Probably not a GWF publication

https://cripe.ca/docs/rafat-pour-2023?wpdmdl=1772&refresh=68bb3237a44ad1757098551