In the span of three weeks, spring crept over the Siberian landscape surrounding the northern half of the Lena River. Many of the rivers in Earth’s temperate zones run high in the spring when melting snow and spring rain flood river basins. On the Lena River, however, spring flooding is almost inevitable for another reason: ice. Like other north-flowing rivers, the upper reaches of the Lena melt before their downstream counterparts. Because the northern mouth of the river remains frozen while the southern body of the river flows freely, water naturally builds behind the ice, forming a temporary reservoir that drains as the ice dwindles.
Published Jun 2, 2007
Each spring, the Canadian Arctic is the site of a fierce battle between water and ice.
Published Jun 8, 2020
A sharp bend in the Yukon River triggered a pile-up of ice that sent water spilling into a nearby town.
Published May 30, 2013
Heavy rains and temperature swings triggered a long ice jam in Connecticut.
Published Jan 24, 2018
Acquired on July 18 and August 1, 2009, these false-color images provide a before-and-after view of the Sitamarhi District of the Indian state of Bihar. The image from August 1 shows swollen waterways and large areas of standing water.
Published Aug 3, 2009
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