Athabasca River ice jam formation and release events in 2006 and 2007

This paper presents details of the field observations of ice jam events carried out in 2006 and 2007 on the Athabasca River at Fort McMurray, Alberta (AB), Canada. The river breakup in both years was quite dynamic, with extensive ice runs, as well as ice jam formation and release events. Quantitative data describing the speed, height and shape of ice jam release waves and the celerity of breaking and shoving fronts, as well as qualitative data describing the ice conditions, provide unique and valuable data contributing towards a better understanding of the dynamics of ice jam formation and release processes. Through application of numerical ice jam release modeling, wave propagation, ice resistance effects and ice-water interactions are explored using these data.