Advanced Search

Indexed by SCI、CA、РЖ、PA、CSA、ZR、etc .

Volume 37 Issue 3
Jun 2026
Turn off MathJax
Article Contents
Shuixia Zhao, Yingjie Wu, Shengzhi Huang, Shengjie Cui, Chao Li. Remote Sensing-Based Frazil Ice Production and Its Influencing Factors in the Inner Mongolia Reaches of the Yellow River. Journal of Earth Science, 2026, 37(3): 1452-1464. doi: 10.1007/s12583-024-0142-9
Citation: Shuixia Zhao, Yingjie Wu, Shengzhi Huang, Shengjie Cui, Chao Li. Remote Sensing-Based Frazil Ice Production and Its Influencing Factors in the Inner Mongolia Reaches of the Yellow River. Journal of Earth Science, 2026, 37(3): 1452-1464. doi: 10.1007/s12583-024-0142-9

Remote Sensing-Based Frazil Ice Production and Its Influencing Factors in the Inner Mongolia Reaches of the Yellow River

doi: 10.1007/s12583-024-0142-9
More Information
  • Corresponding author: Shuixia Zhao, zhaosx@iwhr.com; Shengzhi Huang, huangshengzhi7788@126.com
  • Received Date: 14 Jun 2024
  • Accepted Date: 10 Dec 2024
  • Available Online: 10 Jun 2026
  • Issue Publish Date: 30 Jun 2026
  • In this study, frazil ice production and its influencing factors in the Inner Mongolian reaches of the Yellow River were revealed. The reach extending from the Haibowan Reservoir (HBW) to the Wanjiazhai Reservoir (WJZ) was chosen as the research area for this study, because this section frequently experiences serious ice-related problems. Frazil ice production rate is important for ice cover progression and hanging dam formation, which affect ice conditions and reservoir operation. The heat exchange between the water surface and the atmosphere and the variation in the water surface area are the main factors affecting frazil ice production. A linear heat budget model was used in this study, and a simplified model was proposed for effective open-water area estimation. The results show that the quantity of heat budget upstream and downstream determines the order of freeze-up and break-up. The surface ice appeared when the difference between the water temperature and air temperature was between 6 and 8 ℃. The daily open water area could be estimated on the basis of the ice run concentration and the length of freeze-up, with an error rate of less than 13% compared with the remote sensing monitoring results. Thermal discharge from the HBW delays frazil ice formation and the freeze-up date, resulting in a 13.85 km long stretch of open water downstream of the reservoir and reducing daily frazil ice production by at least 2.31 × 105 m3.

     

  • Conflict of Interest
    The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
  • loading
  • Ashton, G. D., 1979. River Ice: The Presence of Ice on Rivers Changes Their Behavior, Interferes with Their Use, and Causes Severe Economic Disruption. American Scientist, 67(1): 38–45
    Ashton, G. D., 1986. River and Lake Ice Engineering. Water Resources Publication, Littleton
    Barzegar, R., Ghasri, M., Qi, Z. M., et al., 2019. Using Bootstrap ELM and LSSVM Models to Estimate River Ice Thickness in the Mackenzie River Basin in the Northwest Territories, Canada. Journal of Hydrology, 577: 123903. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.06.075
    Beltaos, S., 1995. River Ice Jams. Water Resources Publication, Littleton
    Beltaos, S., 2008. Progress in the Study and Management of River Ice Jams. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 51(1): 2–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2007.09.001
    Bergeron, N. E., Buffin-Bélanger, T., Dubé, J., 2011. Conceptual Model of River Ice Types and Dynamics along Sedimentary Links. River Research and Applications, 27(9): 1159–1167. https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.1479
    Caissie, D., Kurylyk, B. L., St-Hilaire, A., et al., 2014. Streambed Temperature Dynamics and Corresponding Heat Fluxes in Small Streams Experiencing Seasonal Ice Cover. Journal of Hydrology, 519: 1441–1452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.09.034
    Carstens, T., 1970. Heat Exchange and Frazil Formation. Proceedings of the Symposium on Ice and Its Action on Hydraulic Structures. International Association for Hydraulics Research, Sept. 7–10, 1970. Reykjavik, Iceland
    Chang, J. X., Meng, X. J., Wang, Z. Z., et al., 2014. Optimized Cascade Reservoir Operation Considering Ice Flood Control and Power Generation. Journal of Hydrology, 519: 1042–1051. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.08.036
    Chen, D. L., Liang, C. C., Zhao, S. R., 2020. Ice-Flood Prevention Effect on Haibowan Reservoir and Its Impact on Ice Conditions. Journal of China Hydrology, 40(4): 85–90. https://doi.org/10.19797/j.cnki.1000-0852.20190086 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
    Choudhury, B. J., Chang, A. T. C., 1981. The Albedo of Snow for Partially Cloudy Skies. Boundary-Layer Meteorology, 20(3): 371–389. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00121380
    de Béjar, L. A., 2011. Probability of Flood-Induced Overtopping of Barriers in Watershed-Reservoir-Dam Systems. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 16(9): 699–709. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)he.1943-5584.0000361
    Deng, Y., Zhang, P., Tuo, Y. C., et al., 2016. Study on Water Temperature Cumulative Effects of Cascade Hydropower Stations in a Mountain River. Journal of Sichuan University (Engineering Science Edition), 48(4): 1–7. https://doi.org/10.15961/j.jsuese.2016.04.001 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
    Dwivedi, R. S., Rao, B. R. M., 1992. The Selection of the Best Possible Landsat TM Band Combination for Delineating Salt-Affected Soils. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 13(11): 2051–2058. https://doi.org/10.1080/01431169208904252
    Frazier, P., Ken, P. G., 2009. A Reach-Scale Remote Sensing Technique to Relate Wetland Inundation to River Flow. River Research and Applications, 25(7): 836–849. https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.1183
    Freysteinsson, S., 1970. Calculation of Frazil Ice Production. Proceedings of the Symposium on Ice and Its Action on Hydraulic Structures. International Association for Hydraulics Research, Sept. 7–10, 1970. Reykjavik, Iceland
    Fu, C., Popescu, I., Wang, C., et al., 2014. Challenges in Modelling River Flow and Ice Regime on the Ningxia-Inner Mongolia Reach of the Yellow River, China. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 18(3): 1225–1237. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-1225-2014
    Guo, Q. Z., Shen, H. T., Wang, D. S., 1996. Discussion and Closure: Under Cover Transport and Accumulation of Frazil Granules. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 122(8): 473–474. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)0733-9429(1996)122:8(473)
    Gupta, R. P., 2003. Remote Sensing Geology. Springer, New York, NY
    Hall, D., Martinec, J., 1985. Remote Sensing of Ice and Snow. Chapman and Hall, New York, NY
    Hammar, L., Shen, H. T., Evers, K. -U., et al., 2002. A Laboratory Study on Freeze up Ice Runs in River Channels. Proceedings of 16th IAHR International Symposium on Ice. Dec. 2–6, 2002. Dunedin, New Zealand. 22–29
    Han, J. B., Wang, J. P., Ma, H. K., et al., 2025. Flow Variations and Circulation Process of Saline Springs in the Nangqen Basin, Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Earth Science, 36(3): 1213–1225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-024-0086-0
    Huang, Q., Wu, C. G., Gao, F., 2010. Ice Jams Disaster in Ningxia-Inner Mongolia Reaches of the Yellow River and Its Prevention by Reservoirs. Journal of National Disasters, 19(4): 43–47. https://doi.org/10.13577/j.jnd.2010.0407 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
    Huokuna, M., Morris, M., Beltaos, S., et al., 2017. Ice in Regulated Rivers and Reservoirs. CGU HS Committee on River Ice Processes and the Environment. 19th Workshop on the Hydraulics of Ice Covered Rivers. Jul. 9–12, 2017. Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
    Ionita, M., Badaluta, C. A., Scholz, P., et al., 2018. Vanishing River Ice Cover in the Lower Part of the Danube Basin: Signs of a Changing Climate. Scientific Reports, 8: 7948. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-26357-w
    Ji, S. W., Zhu, Y. M., Qiang, S., et al., 2008. Forecast of Water Temperature in Reservoir Based on Analytical Solution. Journal of Hydrodynamics, 20(4): 507–513. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1001-6058(08)60087-6
    Jiang, C., Chen, S. L., Pan, S. Q., et al., 2018. Geomorphic Evolution of the Yellow River Delta: Quantification of Basin-Scale Natural and Anthropogenic Impacts. Catena, 163: 361–377. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2017.12.041
    Kolerski, T., 2015. Ice Cover Progression due to Flow Regulation at the Włocławek Dam. Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Formatio Circumiectus, 14(1): 229–240. https://doi.org/10.15576/asp.fc/2015.14.1.229
    Kolerski, T., 2021. Assessment of the Ice Jam Potential on Regulated Rivers and Reservoirs with the Use of Numerical Model Results. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 191: 103372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2021.103372
    Lee, Z. P., Carder, K. L., Mobley, C. D., et al., 1998. Hyperspectral Remote Sensing for Shallow Waters I: A Semianalytical Model. Applied Optics, 37(27): 6329–6338. https://doi.org/10.1364/ao.37.006329
    Li, C., Ji, X., Zhao, S., et al., 2023. Numerical Simulation of Ice Transport and Accumulation Process in Toudaoguai Reach of the Yellow River. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 54(4): 474–485 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
    Liu, D. H., Shen, W., Liu, Z. Y., et al., 2025. Full-Process Simulation and Disaster Amplification Effects of the Dehenglong Paleo-Landslide-Dammed Lake-Outburst Flood Disaster Chain in the Upper Yellow River. Earth Science. https://link.cnki.net/urlid/42.1874.p.20250922.0934.004 (in Chinese with English Abstract) https://link.cnki.net/urlid/42.1874.p.20250922.0934.004
    Liu, S., Jiang, Q. G., Xiao, Y., et al., 2014. Study of Optional Bands Combination of Landsat Imagery for Extracting Information of Ice Shelves. Advanced Materials Research, 1073–1076: 1902–1906. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.1073-1076.1902
    Long, G. Q., Liu, Z. P., Mei, Z. H., et al., 2011. Modeling of the Water Temperature Structure in a Large Reservoir. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 42(1): 33–39. https://doi.org/10.13243/j.cnki.slxb.2011.01.009 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
    McFeeters, S. K., 1996. The Use of the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) in the Delineation of Open Water Features. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 17(7): 1425–1432. https://doi.org/10.1080/01431169608948714
    McGloin, R., McGowan, H., McJannet, D., et al., 2014. Modelling Sub-Daily Latent Heat Fluxes from a Small Reservoir. Journal of Hydrology, 519: 2301–2311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.10.032
    Paily, P. P., Macagno, E. O., Kennedy, J. F., 1974. Winter-Regime Surface Heat Loss from Heated Streams. NASA STI/Recon Tech Rep. 1974STIN. . . 7531411P
    Prowse, T. D., 2005. River-Ice Hydrology. In: Anderson, M. G., ed., Encyclopedia of Hydrological Science. John Wiley and Sons, London. 2657–2677
    Raup, B., Kääb, A., Kargel, J. S., et al., 2007. Remote Sensing and GIS Technology in the Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS) Project. Computers & Geosciences, 33(1): 104–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2006.05.015
    Richard, M., Morse, B., Daly, S. F., 2015. Modeling Frazil Ice Growth in the St. Lawrence River. Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 42(9): 592–608. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjce-2014-0082
    Rosenberry, D. O., Winter, T. C., Buso, D. C., et al., 2007. Comparison of 15 Evaporation Methods Applied to a Small Mountain Lake in the Northeastern USA. Journal of Hydrology, 340(3/4): 149–166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2007.03.018
    Sandven, S., Johannessen, O. M., Kloster, K., 2006. Sea Ice Monitoring by Remote Sensing: In: Meyers, R. A., ed., Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry. John Wiley & Sons, London. 241–283
    Shen, H. T., 1980. Surface Heat Loss and Frazil Ice Production in the St. Lawrence River. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 16(6): 996–1001. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-1688.1980.tb02539.x
    Shen, H. T., 2010. Mathematical Modeling of River Ice Processes. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 62(1): 3–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2010.02.007
    Shen, H. T., Liu, L. W., 2003. Shokotsu River Ice Jam Formation. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 37(1): 35–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-232X(03)00034-X
    Shen, H. T., Wang, D. S., Wasantha Lal, A. M., 1995. Numerical Simulation of River Ice Processes. Journal of Cold Regions Engineering, 9(3): 107–118. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)0887-381x(1995)9:3(107)
    Shestov, A. S., Høyland, K. V., Ekeberg, O. C., 2012. Morphology and Physical Properties of Old Sea Ice in the Fram Strait 2006–2011. In: Li, Z. J., ed., Ice Research for a Sustainable Environment. Proceedings of the 21st IAHR International Symposium on Ice. Jun. 11–15, 2012, Dalian. 1: 493–504
    Shen, H. T., Ruggles, R. W., 1982. Winter Heat Budget and Frazil Ice Production in the Upper St. Lawrence River. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 18(2): 251–256 doi: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.1982.tb03968.x
    Smedsrud, L. H., Jenkins, A., 2004. Frazil Ice Formation in an Ice Shelf Water Plume. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 109(C3): 2003JC001851. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JC001851
    Stefan, H., Gulliver, J. S., Hahn, M. G., et al., 1980. Water Temperature Dynamics in Experimental Field Channels: Analysis and Modeling. Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory. Retrieved from the University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy.http://hdl.handle.net/11299/117303
    Tuthill, A. M., 1999. Flow Control to Manage River Ice. Report No. CRREL-SR-99-8. Cold Regions Research & Engineering Lab, Hanover, NH
    Wang, T., Yang, K. L., Guo, Y. X., 2008. Application of Artificial Neural Networks to Forecasting Ice Conditions of the Yellow River in the Inner Mongolia Reach. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 13(9): 811–816. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)1084-0699(2008)13:9(811)
    Wu, Y. L., Liang, R. F., Li, J., et al., 2020. Study on Water Temperature Change of Zipingpu Reservoir. Environmental Impact Assessment, 38(3): 24–28. https://doi.org/10.14068/j.ceia.2016.03.007 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
    Zeng, Q. Z., Cao, M. S., Feng, X. Z., et al., 1984. Study on Spectral Reflection Characteristics of Snow, Ice and Water of Northwest China. Science in China: Series B, 27: 647–656
    Zhai, Y., Zhang, X., Ji, H., et al., 2022. Ice-Water Classification in Inner Mongolia Reach of the Yellow River Based on Remote Sensing Images. Arid Land Geography, 45(3): 763–773. https://doi.org/10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2021.347 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
    Zhang, B., Li, C., Zhang, F., et al., 2017. Analysis of Ice-Jamed Water Level Variation of Wanjiazhai Reservoir Tail in the Early Freeze up Period. Yellow River, 39(2): 25–27, 33 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
    Zhang, S. S., Li, Q. C., Li, H., et al., 2025. Intelligent Glacial Lake Identification in Complex Plateau Terrain Regions Using Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data and Mask R-CNN Deep Learning Model. Earth Science, 50(8): 3132–3143. https://doi.org/10.3799/dqkx.2025.041 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
    Zhang, Z. H., Gao, Z. D., 2000. Action of Haibowan Reservoir on Ice Regime Control in the Inner Mongolia Reach of the Yellow River. China Ministry of Water Resources, Beijing. 20: 15–17 (in Chinese)
    Zhao, S. X., Li, C. Y., Li, C., et al., 2016. Analysis of Characteristics of River Channel Evolution in Inner Mongolia Reach of Yellow River Based on 3S Technology. Advances in Science and Technology of Water Resources, 36(4): 70–74. https://doi.org/10.3880/j.issn.1006-7647.2016.04.013 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
    Zhao, S. X., Li, C. Y., Li, C., et al., 2017. Processes of River Ice and Ice-Jam Formation in Shensifenzi Bend of the Yellow River. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 48(3): 351–358. https://doi.org/10.13243/j.cnki.slxb.20160721 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
    Zhao, S. X., Shen, H. T., Shi, X. H., et al., 2020. Wintertime Surface Heat Exchange for the Inner Mongolia Reach of the Yellow River. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 56(2): 348–356. https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.12831
    Zheng, S., 2017. Channel Evolution Following Avulsion: An Example from the Yellow River Delta. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. Dec. 11–15, 2017. New Orleans, LA
    Zhu, S., Li, C., Zhang, H., et al., 2025. Effective Elastic Thickness of North Atlantic Lithosphere Reveals Weakened Continental Margins and Mid-Ocean Ridge. Journal of Earth Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-025-0379-y
  • 加载中

Catalog

    通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com
    • 1. 

      沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院 沈阳 110142

    1. 本站搜索
    2. 百度学术搜索
    3. 万方数据库搜索
    4. CNKI搜索

    Figures(9)  / Tables(3)

    Article Metrics

    Article views(9) PDF downloads(0) Cited by()
    Proportional views
    Related

    /

    DownLoad:  Full-Size Img  PowerPoint
    Return
    Return