Abstract
The state‐of‐the‐art of the hydrological network for the study of river‐ice regimes in the Russian Arctic is reviewed as well as the regularly published documents that characterize specific features of ice events. The dates of the beginning of different ice events (e.g. ice drift, ice‐cover formation, frazil ice drift, etc.) are analysed as well as the duration of such events for 16 rivers typical of the Russian Arctic. It is demonstrated that ice on Arctic rivers of Asian Russia forms earlier and breaks up later compared to those of European Russia; this is explained by the more severe climate conditions that affect the northern areas of Siberia. Ice‐cover duration on the study rivers varies from 140 to 250 days with the maximum duration being observed in the lower reaches of large rivers in East Siberia and the Far East. Ice‐cover duration and the latitude of the observation stations are strongly correlated. The dynamics of ice‐cover growth and melting on rivers, ice thickness and snow‐pack depth on the ice are considered in different parts of the Russian Arctic. It is demonstrated that the nature of ice growth during the autumn–winter period and its decrease in spring mainly depend on the thermal conditions during a particular year. In years with low air temperatures, ice‐cover thickness in the rivers of the Far East can attain 200 cm and greater, meanwhile it may be 50 or 60 cm only in the rivers of European Russia if the winter is warm. Particular case studies are given to illustrate these features. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.