Hydrological data extracted directly from Water Survey of Canada archives covering
the 1913-2002 time period is used to assess river ice break-up in the Mackenzie River
basin. A return-period analysis indicates that 13 (14) of 28 sites in the basin are
dominated by peak water-levels occurring during the spring break-up (open-water)
period. One location has a mixed signal. A map of flooding regimes is discussed in terms
of physical, hydrological and climatic controls. Annual break-up is found to progress
from south to north, over a period representing ~ΒΌ of the year. Average annual duration
is ~8 weeks. The at site break-up period, recognized as the most dynamic time of the year
on cold-regions river systems is found to last from 4 days to 4 weeks. Break-up timing
(1966-1995) is found to be occurring earlier in the western portions of the basin (~3
days/decade), concurrent with late 20th century warming.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uvic.ca/oai:dspace.library.uvic.ca:1828/1609 |
| Date | 26 August 2009 |
| Creators | De Rham, Laurent Paul |
| Contributors | Prowse, Terry Donald |
| Source Sets | University of Victoria |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | Available to the World Wide Web |
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