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Aspects of river ice hydrology in Japan
Author(s) -
Hirayama Kenichi,
Yamazaki Makoto,
Tao Shen Hung
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
hydrological processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.222
H-Index - 161
eISSN - 1099-1085
pISSN - 0885-6087
DOI - 10.1002/hyp.375
Subject(s) - hydrometeorology , hydrology (agriculture) , snow , geology , channel (broadcasting) , streams , ice formation , arctic ice pack , environmental science , sea ice , climatology , atmospheric sciences , geomorphology , precipitation , meteorology , geography , geotechnical engineering , engineering , electrical engineering , computer network , computer science
Rivers in northern Japan are subjected to ice formation each winter. They are typically very steep with rapid changes in channel slope. As a result, ice covers are usually discontinuous with open water sections. Winter discharges in Japanese rivers are usually very small. Water temperature and ice production in these streams are very sensitive to the change in air temperature. The open water sections enable the formation of frazil and anchor ice during the winter. Owing to the relatively stable winter weather and heavy snow cover, premature break‐up and ice jams rarely occur, even though the channel geometry of these rivers is favourable for their occurrence. In this paper, hydrometeorological factors related to ice‐cover formation, frazil and anchor‐ice development, and ice‐jam formation, as well as measurements of the undercover discharge in rivers in northern Japan are discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.