3 research outputs found
Sagavanirktok River Spring Breakup Observations 2015
Alaska’s economy is strongly tied to oil production, with most of the petroleum coming from the
Prudhoe Bay oil fields. Deadhorse, the furthest north oil town on the Alaska North Slope,
provides support to the oil industry. The Dalton Highway is the only road that connects
Deadhorse with other cities in Interior Alaska. The road is heavily used to move supplies to and
from the oil fields.
In late March and early April 2015, the Dalton Highway near Deadhorse was affected by ice and
winter overflow from the Sagavanirktok River, which caused the road’s closure two times, for a
total of eleven days (four and seven days, respectively). In mid-May, the Sagavanirktok River at
several reaches flooded the Dalton from approximately milepost (MP) 394 to 414 (Deadhorse).
The magnitude of this event, the first recorded since the road was built in 1976, was such that the
Dalton was closed for nearly three weeks. During that time, a water station and several pressure
transducers were installed to track water level changes on the river. Discharge measurements
were performed, and water samples were collected to estimate suspended sediment
concentration.
Water levels changed from approximately 1 m near MP414 to around 3 m at the East Bank
station, located on the river’s east bank (about MP392). Discharge measurements ranged from
nearly 400 to 1560 m3/s, with the maximum measurement roughly coinciding with the peak.
Representative sediment sizes (D50) ranged from 10 to 14 microns. Suspended sediment
concentrations ranged from a few mg/L (clear water in early flooding stages) to approximately
4500 mg/L.
An analysis of cumulative runoff for two contiguous watersheds—the Putuligayuk and
Kuparuk—indicates that 2014 was a record-breaking year in both watersheds. Additionally, an
unseasonable spell of warm air temperatures was recorded during mid-February to early March.
While specific conditions responsible for this unprecedented flood are difficult to pinpoint,
runoff and the warm spell certainly contributed to the flood event.ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................................... i
LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... iii
LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................................... v
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND DISCLAIMER .......................................................................... vi
CONVERSION FACTORS, UNITS, WATER QUALITY UNITS, VERTICAL AND
HORIZONTAL DATUM, ABBREVIATIONS, AND SYMBOLS ............................................ vii
ABBREVIATIONS, ACRONYMS, AND SYMBOLS ................................................................ ix
1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1
2 STUDY AREA ........................................................................................................................ 5
3 METHODOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT ................................................................................ 9
3.1 Ice Elevations Prior to Breakup (GPS Surveys)............................................................. 10
3.2 X-Band SAR Analysis ................................................................................................... 11
3.3 Water Levels .................................................................................................................. 12
3.4 Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler ................................................................................. 14
3.5 Discharge Measurements ............................................................................................... 15
3.6 Suspended Sediments ..................................................................................................... 17
4 RESULTS .............................................................................................................................. 18
4.1 Air Temperature ............................................................................................................. 18
4.2 Annual Precipitation ....................................................................................................... 20
4.3 Cold Season Precipitation .............................................................................................. 22
4.4 Warm Season Precipitation ............................................................................................ 23
4.5 Surface Water Hydrology............................................................................................... 27
4.5.1 Ice Elevations .......................................................................................................... 28
4.5.2 X-Band SAR Analysis ............................................................................................ 31
4.5.3 Water Levels ........................................................................................................... 37
4.5.4 Discharge Measurements ........................................................................................ 43
4.5.5 Additional Field Observations ................................................................................ 49
4.5.6 Cumulative Volumetric Warm Season Runoff ....................................................... 59
4.5.7 Suspended Sediment ............................................................................................... 63
5 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................... 66
6 REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................... 68
7 APPENDICES ....................................................................................................................... 72
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Sagavanirktok River Spring Breakup Observations 2016
In 2015, spring breakup on the Sagavanirktok River near Deadhorse was characterized by high
flows that destroyed extensive sections of the Dalton Highway, closing the road for nearly 3
weeks. This unprecedented flood also damaged infrastructure that supports the trans-Alaska
pipeline, though the pipeline itself was not damaged. The Alaska Department of Transportation
and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) and the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company made emergency
repairs to their respective infrastructure.
In December 2015, aufeis accumulation was observed by ADOT&PF personnel. In January
2016, a research team with the University of Alaska Fairbanks began monitoring and researching
the aufeis and local hydroclimatology. Project objectives included determining ice elevations,
identifying possible water sources, establishing surface meteorological conditions prior to
breakup, measuring hydrosedimentological conditions (discharge, water level, and suspended
sediment concentration) during breakup, and reviewing historical imagery of the aufeis feature.
Ice surface elevations were surveyed with Global Positioning System (GPS) techniques in late
February and again in mid-April, and measureable volume changes were calculated. However,
river ice thickness obtained from boreholes near Milepost 394 (MP394) in late February and
mid-April revealed no significant changes. It appears that flood mitigation efforts by ADOT&PF
in the area contributed to limited vertical growth in ice at the boreholes. End-of-winter snow
surveys throughout the watershed indicate normal or below normal snow water equivalents
(SWE 10 cm). An imagery analysis of the lower Sagavanirktok aufeis from late winter for the
past 17 years shows the presence of ice historically at the MP393–MP396 area.
Water levels and discharge were relatively low in 2016 compared with 2015. The mild breakup
in 2016 seems to have been due to temperatures dropping below freezing after the flow began.
Spring 2015 was characterized by warm temperatures throughout the basin during breakup,
which produced the high flows that destroyed sections of the Dalton Highway.
A comparison of water levels at the East Bank Station during 2015 and 2016 indicates that the
2015 maximum water level was approximately 1 m above the 2016 maximum water level.
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Maximum measured discharge in 2016 was approximately half of that measured in 2015 in the
lower Sagavanirktok River. Representative suspended sediment sizes (D50) ranged from 20 to 50
microns (medium to coarse silt).
An objective of this study was to determine the composition and possible sources of water in the
aufeis at the lower Sagavanirktok River. During the winter months and prior to breakup in 2016,
overflow water was collected, primarily near the location of the aufeis, but also at upriver
locations. Simultaneously possible contributing water sources were sampled between January
and July 2016, including snow, glacial meltwater, and river water. Geochemical analyses were
performed on all samples. It was found that the overflow water which forms the lower
Sagavanirktok aufeis is most similar (R2 = 0.997) to the water that forms the aufeis at the
Sagavanirktok River headwaters (Ivishak River), thought to be fed by relatively consistent
groundwater sources.ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................................... i
LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................ v
LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................... ix
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND DISCLAIMER ........................................................................... x
CONVERSION FACTORS, UNITS, WATER QUALITY UNITS, VERTICAL AND
HORIZONTAL DATUM, ABBREVIATIONS, AND SYMBOLS ............................................. xi
ABBREVIATIONS, ACRONYMS, AND SYMBOLS .............................................................. xiii
1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1
2 STUDY AREA ........................................................................................................................ 6
3 METHODOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT ................................................................................ 6
3.1 Aufeis Extent .................................................................................................................... 7
3.1.1 Field Methods ........................................................................................................... 7
3.1.2 Structure from Motion Imagery ................................................................................ 8
3.1.3 Imagery ..................................................................................................................... 8
3.2 Surface Meteorology ...................................................................................................... 10
3.3 Water Levels .................................................................................................................. 11
3.4 Discharge Measurements ............................................................................................... 13
3.5 Suspended Sediment ...................................................................................................... 16
3.6 Water Chemistry ............................................................................................................ 17
3.6.1 Sampling ................................................................................................................. 17
3.6.2 Trace Element Analysis .......................................................................................... 19
3.6.3 Data Analysis .......................................................................................................... 19
4 RESULTS .............................................................................................................................. 20
4.1 Air Temperature ............................................................................................................. 20
4.2 Wind Speed and Direction ............................................................................................. 29
4.3 Annual Precipitation ....................................................................................................... 30
4.4 Cold Season Precipitation .............................................................................................. 32
4.5 Warm Season Precipitation ............................................................................................ 36
4.6 Aufeis Extent .................................................................................................................. 40
4.6.1 Historical Aufeis at Franklin Bluffs ........................................................................ 40
4.6.2 Delineating Ice Surface Elevation with GPS and Aerial Imagery .......................... 46
4.6.3 Ice Boreholes .......................................................................................................... 55
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4.6.4 Ice Accumulation (SR50) ....................................................................................... 58
4.6.5 Ice Thickness and Volume ...................................................................................... 60
4.7 Surface Water Hydrology............................................................................................... 62
4.7.1 Sagavanirktok River at MP318 (DSS4) .................................................................. 67
4.7.2 Sagavanirktok River at Happy Valley (DSS3) ....................................................... 70
4.7.3 Sagavanirktok River Below the Ivishak River (DSS2)........................................... 73
4.7.4 Sagavanirktok River at East Bank (DSS5) Near Franklin Bluffs ........................... 76
4.7.5 Sagavanirktok River at MP405 (DSS1) West Channel .......................................... 85
4.7.6 Additional Field Observations ................................................................................ 86
4.8 Suspended Sediment ...................................................................................................... 87
4.9 Water Chemistry ............................................................................................................ 91
5 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................... 96
6 REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................... 99
7 APPENDICES ..................................................................................................................... 10
Hydrology and Meteorology of the Central Alaskan Arctic: Data Collection and Analysis
The availability of environmental data for unpopulated areas of Alaska can best be described as
sparse; however, these areas have resource development potential. The central Alaskan Arctic
region north of the Brooks Range (referred to as the North Slope) is no exception in terms of
both environmental data and resource potential. This area was the focus of considerable oil/gas
exploration immediately following World War II. Unfortunately, very little environmental data
were collected in parallel with the exploration. Soon after the oil discovery at Prudhoe Bay in
November 1968, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) started collecting discharge data at three
sites in the neighborhood of Prudhoe Bay and one small watershed near Barrow. However, little
complementary meteorological data (like precipitation) were collected to support the streamflow
observations. In 1985, through a series of funded research projects, researchers at the University
of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), Water and Environmental Research Center (WERC), began
installing meteorological stations on the North Slope in the central Alaskan Arctic. The number
of stations installed ranged from 1 in 1985 to 3 in 1986, 12 in 1996, 24 in 2006, 23 in 2010, and
7 in 2014. Researchers from WERC also collected hydrological data at the following streams:
Imnavait Creek (1985 to present), Upper Kuparuk River (1993 to present), Putuligayuk River
(1999 to present, earlier gauged by USGS), Kadleroshilik River (2006 to 2010), Shaviovik River
(2006 to 2010), No Name River (2006 to 2010), Chandler River (2009 to 2013), Anaktuvuk
River (2009 to 2013), Lower Itkillik River (2012 to 2013), and Upper Itkillik River (2009 to
2013). These catchments vary in size, and runoff generation can emanate from the coastal plain,
the foothills or mountains, or any combination of these locations. Snowmelt runoff in late
May/early June is the most significant hydrological event of the year, except at small watersheds.
For these watersheds, rain/mixed snow events in July and August have produced the floods of
record. Ice jams are a major concern, especially in the larger river systems. Solid cold season
precipitation is mostly uniform over the area, while warm season precipitation is greater in the
mountains and foothills than on the coastal plain (roughly 3:2:1, mountains:foothills:
coastal plain).The results reported here are primarily for the drainages of the Itkillik, Anaktuvuk,
and Chandler River basins, where a proposed transportation corridor is being considered. Results
for 2011 and before can be found in earlier reports.ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................................... i
LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................ v
LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................................... x
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND DISCLAIMER ........................................................................ xiii
CONVERSION FACTORS, UNITS, WATER QUALITY UNITS, VERTICAL AND
HORIZONTAL DATUM, ABBREVIATIONS, AND SYMBOLS ........................................... xiv
ABBREVIATIONS, ACRONYMS, AND SYMBOLS .............................................................. xvi
1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1
2 PRIOR RELATED PUBLICATIONS .................................................................................... 5
3 STUDY AREA ........................................................................................................................ 7
4 PREVIOUS STUDIES .......................................................................................................... 11
5 METHODOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT .............................................................................. 15
5.1 Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler ................................................................................. 17
5.2 Discharge Measurements ............................................................................................... 17
5.3 Suspended Sediments ..................................................................................................... 20
5.3.1 River Sediment ........................................................................................................ 21
5.3.2 Suspended Sediment Observations ......................................................................... 21
5.3.3 Suspended Sediment Discharge .............................................................................. 22
5.3.4 Turbidity ................................................................................................................. 23
5.3.5 Bed Sediment Distribution ...................................................................................... 23
5.3.6 Suspended Sediment Grain-Size Distribution ........................................................ 24
6 RESULTS .............................................................................................................................. 25
6.1 Air Temperature and Relative Humidity ........................................................................ 25
6.2 Wind Speed and Direction ............................................................................................. 30
6.3 Net Radiation .................................................................................................................. 38
6.4 Warm Season Precipitation ............................................................................................ 40
6.5 Cold Season Precipitation .............................................................................................. 46
6.6 Annual Precipitation ....................................................................................................... 52
6.7 Soil ................................................................................................................................. 55
6.7.1 Soil Temperature ..................................................................................................... 56
6.7.1.1 Results ................................................................................................................. 57
6.7.2 Soil Moisture ........................................................................................................... 60
6.7.2.1 Results ................................................................................................................. 61
6.8 North Slope Climatology ............................................................................................... 63
6.8.1 Air Temperature ...................................................................................................... 63
6.8.2 Precipitation ............................................................................................................ 65
6.8.2.1 Warm Season Precipitation ................................................................................. 65
6.8.2.2 Cold Season Precipitation ................................................................................... 68
6.8.2.3 Annual Total Precipitation .................................................................................. 70
6.9 Surface Water Hydrology ............................................................................................... 72
6.9.1 Itkillik River ............................................................................................................ 73
6.9.2 Upper Itkillik River ................................................................................................. 74
6.9.2.1 Dye Trace Results, Upper Itkillik River .............................................................. 81
6.9.3 Lower Itkillik River 2013 Breakup and Spring Flood ............................................ 84
6.9.4 Anaktuvuk River ..................................................................................................... 91
6.9.5 Chandler River ...................................................................................................... 100
6.9.6 Additional Field Observations .............................................................................. 107
6.10 River Sediment Results ................................................................................................ 117
6.10.1 Correlation between Isco and Depth-Integrated Samples ..................................... 117
6.10.2 Suspended Sediment Rating Curves ..................................................................... 118
6.10.3 Suspended Sediment Concentrations .................................................................... 119
6.10.4 Suspended Sediment Discharge ............................................................................ 125
6.10.5 Turbidity ............................................................................................................... 129
6.10.6 Bed Sediment Distribution .................................................................................... 134
6.10.7 Suspended Sediment Grain-Size Distribution ...................................................... 136
7 HYDROLOGIC ANALYSIS .............................................................................................. 139
7.1 Precipitation Frequency Analysis ................................................................................. 139
7.2 Manning’s Roughness Coefficient (n) Calculations Revisited .................................... 142
7.3 Hydrological Modeling ................................................................................................ 147
8 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................. 157
9 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................... 163
10 APPENDICES ..................................................................................................................... 169
Appendix A – Air Temperature and Relative Humidity
Appendix B – Wind Speed and Direction: Wind Roses
Appendix C – Cumulative Warm Season Precipitation for All Years at Each Station and
Cumulative Warm Season Precipitation by Year for All Stations, 2007 to 2013
Appendix D – Soil Temperature and Moisture Content
Appendix E – Rating Curves and Discharge Measurement Summarie