IceMonitoring.com helps you monitor lake and river ice using state-of-the-art terrestrial sensors and earth observing satellites
River Ice
Ice formation on rivers is a highly complex and dynamic process that eventually leads to complete and continuous ice cover. The significance of river ice is multi-faceted given it controls the winter flow regimes of most rivers; provides seasonal transportation corridors for remote communities, can be hazardous to shipping, can influence weather patterns, and can be an indicator to climate change. The formation of consolidated ice is of particular importance since it can cause ice damming and flooding over large areas. Monitoring river ice provides important information on the location and extent of ice cover.
Developed and tested in Northern Alberta and Northern Quebec, Hatfield’s ice monitoring service helps delineate and identify river ice types, ice breakup, and ice conditions to support ice travel safety, flood risk management, and strategic planning for downstream infrastructures. Hatfield provides governments and companies with accurate and frequent information on river ice conditions and ice phenology to allow for effective decision making.
Our river ice monitoring service includes:
Developed and tested in Northern Alberta and Northern Quebec, Hatfield’s ice monitoring service helps delineate and identify river ice types, ice breakup, and ice conditions to support ice travel safety, flood risk management, and strategic planning for downstream infrastructures. Hatfield provides governments and companies with accurate and frequent information on river ice conditions and ice phenology to allow for effective decision making.
Our river ice monitoring service includes:
- Ice front detection;
- Ice type classification, including consolidated ice, open water, and smooth ice; and
- Change detection, to determine movement of the ice front and location of ice jams.
Lake Ice
Lake ice formation, growth, and decay is driven by several factors including, air temperature, wind, precipitation, and incoming solar radiation. In addition, lake dimensions, surrounding topography, and geographic location also contribute to ice formation on lakes. Larger lakes can undergo seasonal changes at slower rates than smaller, shallow lake systems; strong wind induced stress can lead to later freeze-up and early break-up by reducing structural integrity; and spring melt is affected by lake depth. Monitoring lake ice provides insights into how ice cover plays a role in and responds to climate variability.
Using our proprietary Grounded Ice Detection (GUIDE) algorithm, developed and tested in the Northwest Territories, satellite data are processed to map the extent of grounded ice. This information provides valuable information on relative lake depth, sensitivity to fish over-wintering habitat, and potential for water withdrawal and use by industry.
Hatfield provides governments and companies with accurate and frequent information on lake ice, including:
Using our proprietary Grounded Ice Detection (GUIDE) algorithm, developed and tested in the Northwest Territories, satellite data are processed to map the extent of grounded ice. This information provides valuable information on relative lake depth, sensitivity to fish over-wintering habitat, and potential for water withdrawal and use by industry.
Hatfield provides governments and companies with accurate and frequent information on lake ice, including:
- Timing of freeze up and break up; and
- Distribution of floating and grounded (bottom-fast) ice.
Case Studies