February 5, 2014 Drs. Knut Kielland and Bill Schneider and the Dangerous Ice Project Team, On Dangerous Ice - Rules for Navigating on River Ice Dangerous Ice Project Team, University of Alaska Fairbanks

On Dangerous Ice - Rules for navigating on river ice

Drs. Knut Kielland and Bill Schneider and the Dangerous Ice Project Team, Dangerous Ice Project Team, University of Alaska Fairbanks

The Tanana River, by accident of geography and geology, exhibits unique hydrologic characteristics. One of these is extensive ground water upwelling that results in ice thinning or outright melting in mid-winter. Another is bank erosion, where large chunks of river bank may break off during a 30-below January day and smash through two feet of river ice! With support from the National Science Foundation, the guidance of several old- timers, scientists, and students, the Dangerous Ice team members studied hazardous wintertime river conditions and developed a booklet to share their research findings with the general public. Based on their river observations, they illustrate and describe particular situations that the group recognized as dangerous . In this talk, they will visually show and explain dangerous ice conditions; describe some of the underlying physical processes; and provide general safety tips for avoiding and getting out of danger. Speakers: Knut Kielland, Bill Schneider, Chas Jones, Karen Brewster, and Sam Demientieff