Spring bank erosion and icicle formation

Observation by Jeffrey Luther:

First time paying attention to the river banks via drone before breakup. Noticed the icicles already folded from the bank, collapsed before weather really got warm here. There's still ice in puddles, and no river flow yet.

LEO says:

Throughout the years Jeffrey has shared erosion and permafrost observations along the Noatak River. This is the first one before breakup and the first to show large icicle formations in a near erosion area. The icicles are indicitive of moving water and an area of the bank that may be particularly vulnerable to erosion in the weeks ahead. See also attached document with additional photos and details. We wanted to share Jeffrey's process of measurments, pictures, and drone footage. See attached document for attached photos. Thank you Jeffrey for the excellent observations over the years. We have included links and images from Real Earth. Link in sidebar. RealEarth™ is a data discovery and visualization platform developed at SSEC/CIMSS at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to support outreach and collaboration efforts of scientists. It is a partnership of NOAA and NASA. The platform can be useful during breakup to see impacts of ice flow and timing. L. Flora

Jeffrey says:

I go and put markers 37 ft, 48 ft, and 70 ft. I measure from the edge of the bank to a land marker and use spray paint as the measuring point.

-1st photo 37 ft marker, -2nd photo 48 ft marker, -3rd photo debris sticking out of the river bank, -4th photo permafrost degradation, -5th photo how far upstream the old landfill goes, -6th photo permafrost degradation, -7th photo permafrost degradation, -8th photo permafrost degradation, -9th photo shows location of permafrost degradation, -10th photo aerial of permafrost degradation, -11th photo permafrost degradation, -12th photo my prediction of where most erosion may occur this summer, - 13th photo 70 ft marker to the bus tire & 48 ft marker in between the red lines on right side of photo,

I'll check on the markers from time to time, and make longer markers if needed, and update the numbers.

Update from Jeffrey May 16th

No ice flow yet, melt in front before it start flowing... Maybe this weekend the river will start flowing. River isn't flowing, a possible ice jam upriver delaying the river flow in front of town.