Characteristics of suspended sediment and metal transport during ice breakup, Saint John River, Canada

During the spring freshet and the resulting breakup of river ice covers, the erosive capacity of the flow is enhanced not only by the rising discharge, but also by the highly dynamic waves that form upon the release of ice jams. Concentrations of suspended sediment and particulate contaminants, such as trace metals, increase sharply. To enhance the very limited knowledge on this issue, comprehensive data have been collected on the Saint John...