The Importance of Widespread Temperature Conditions on Breakup Characteristics: The Case of Sagavanirktok River, Alaska, USA

Horacio Toniolo; Eric LaMesjerant; Alex Lai; John Keech; Joel Bailey

doi:10.3390/w15152850

Water (Aug 2023)

The Importance of Widespread Temperature Conditions on Breakup Characteristics: The Case of Sagavanirktok River, Alaska, USA

Horacio Toniolo,
Eric LaMesjerant,
Alex Lai,
John Keech,
Joel Bailey

Affiliations

Horacio Toniolo: Department of Civil, Geological and Environmental Engineering, Engineering Learning and Innovation Facility, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Suite 240, 1764 Tanana Loop, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
Eric LaMesjerant: Water and Environmental Research Center, Institute of Northern Engineering, Engineering Learning and Innovation Facility, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Suite 240, 1764 Tanana Loop, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
Alex Lai: Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, 615 Bidwell Ave., Fairbanks, AK 99701, USA
John Keech: Water and Environmental Research Center, Institute of Northern Engineering, Engineering Learning and Innovation Facility, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Suite 240, 1764 Tanana Loop, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
Joel Bailey: Water and Environmental Research Center, Institute of Northern Engineering, Engineering Learning and Innovation Facility, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Suite 240, 1764 Tanana Loop, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/w15152850
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 15
p. 2850

Abstract

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Daily average springtime air temperatures from four weather stations distributed along north–south and nearly east–west directions within or on the divide of the Sagavanirktok River watershed in Arctic Alaska were studied and compared with discharge measurements and field observations made from 2015 to 2021 during breakup. The results indicate that under widespread air temperature events, during El Niño, rapid and dynamic breakup can occur (promoting sediment transport along the stream), while during La Niña, slow and thermal breakup can be expected. Due to these climate pattern effects, open channel conditions (i.e., ice-free channels) are reached earlier (18 May 2015) during El Niño and later (7 June 2021) during La Niña.

Published in Water

ISSN: 2073-4441 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Hydraulic engineering; Technology: Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering: Water supply for domestic and industrial purposes
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/water/

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