Determination of ice production in a natural river: a case study in the Inner Mongolia Reach of the Yellow River

Abstract

Abstract In the present study, ice production in a natural river reach has been studied by means of the thermodynamic theory regarding the heat flux between ice, air, riverbed, and water. The heat transfer coefficient and equivalent total heat flux were determined for different periods during winter. The characteristics of variation and distribution of ice production in the Inner Mongolia Reach of the Yellow River (IMRYR) were studied in combination with the change of heat flux. A model for describing the temporal–spatial variation of ice production for the IMRYR has been developed. The ice production process of the IMRYR from 2017 to 2021 was simulated using the proposed model, and the simulation results were in good agreement with those of the measurements. Results of the analysis showed that when the total ice production in the Bayangaole gauging station reaches 3.18 × 107 m3, a freeze-up process in this river reach is likely to occur. The influence degree of each variable on the ice production was in the following descending order: water surface area, air temperature, radiation, and flow. Particularly, a change of 20% of the water surface area will lead to a 11.48% change in the final calculated result of ice production.