Numerical Model for Forecasting Ice Conditions on the Ohio River

摘要

A numerical model, RICEOH, for simulating flow and ice conditions in a dendriticriver system is developed. The flow computations use a double-sweep algorithm for unsteady shallow water wave equations. The distributions of water temperatures and ice concentration are determined using a Lagrangian-Eulerian scheme. The formation of an ice cover is modeled using existing equilibrium ice jam theories. Frazil ice deposition and erosion are modeled by a simple critical-velocity criterion. The thermal growth and decay of an ice cover is calculated by a quasi steady finite difference method. The model is applied to the Ohio River system between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Meldahl, Ohio. Comparisons with field observations show that the model can provide good simulation for ice conditions.