What is the Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the second longest river in North America and is located in the United States. Stretching from Minnesota to Louisiana, the river has become an important part of American history and culture, providing key transportation links to cities and settlements throughout the Midwest. Its waters are often called “Old Man River”, due to their slow pace of movement downstream.
The Mississippi River is heavily relied upon for irrigation, flood control, and other navigational purposes, making it integral to the development and growth of modern Memphis and the areas around it. In light of this, many people are curious if the Mississippi River ever freezes.
Does the Mississippi River Freeze
The simple answer is yes, the Mississippi River does experience some freezing from time to time. Despite the fact that it is a slow-moving body of water, the temperatures in the winter can drop so cold that parts of the river will begin to freeze. That said, despite these occasional instances of freezing, it is extremely rare for the entire length of the Mississippi River to be completely frozen over.
When it comes to the effects of the cold on the Mississippi River, the most common consequence will typically be some degree of ice formation alongside the river banks. This is caused by periodic sub-zero temperatures that allow freezing temperatures to impact the shallow shoreline areas.
Even when this occurs, it is usually limited to a very shallow depth compared to the main body of the river, and is usually short-lived due to the warmth of the water further down in the river.
Reason the Mississippi River Doesn’t Freeze
The primary reason the Mississippi River doesn’t freeze is its overall depth and large size. It takes much colder temperatures to freeze over a wide river like the Mississippi than it does to freeze a small lake or pond.
In addition, the constant movement of the river’s current helps to break any ice formation before it can become thick and stable. Also, the warmer water that lies below the surface affects the temperature of the river’s shallower levels, negating its ability to freeze over.
Finally, the locks and dams throughout the river are another key factor in denying the Mississippi River a chance to freeze over in winter. By forcing warmer water from the bottom of the river out at the dams, the river’s surface temperature is kept consistently warmer than the surrounding air.
Location of Freezing on the River
While freezing does occur on the Mississippi, it typically only happens along the upper portion of the river where the freezing temperatures are more common. This includes areas south of Minneapolis, Minnesota and north of St. Louis, Missouri.
From areas around Davenport, Iowa, southward, the chance of freezing significantly decreases as the river remains relatively warm year-round due to the warmer waters at the river’s lower levels.
Impact of Ice
When the Mississippi does freeze in its northern areas, it can have disruptive impacts on navigation and shipping traffic. The river must be closed when the ice is deemed too thick for navigation, which can cause delays and disruption for the larger ships on the river.
The ice also has a host of environmental impacts on the local flora and fauna. Animals can struggle to find food when portions of the river are frozen over and, if the ice persists long enough, ice jams can occur that have the potential to cause flooding.
Man-Made Alterations
The possibility of the Mississippi River freezing has been diminished significantly by the introduction of man-made alterations, such as locks and dams.
The locks and dams work by maintaining a semi-permanent great wall of barriers throughout the river to interrupt the natural flow of the water and prevent it from becoming too shallow. Instead, the water is directed through the locks, away from where it can freeze.
These locks and dams also help to maintain a consistent level of warmth throughout the river all year long, further preventing freezing from occurring.
Solutions to Stop Freezing
In areas that often experience near-freezing temperatures, there are several solutions that people can use to prevent the river from freezing. The most common approaches are to outfit sections of the river with de-icing booms to break up the ice formation, increase the flow rate of the river with pumps to create difficulty for the freezing process, or to have icebreakers patrol the river’s surface to break up any ice formations.
Winter Activities
Despite freezing being a possibility for the Mississippi River, there are still several activities that people can enjoy when the weather turns cold.
In the northern areas of the river, the locks and dams provide excellent spots for ice fishing and ice boating. Further south, more temperate weather allows for activities such as canoeing, kayaking, and fishing to take place year-round.
Impact on Shipping
The main impact of freezing on the Mississippi River is on shipping. As mentioned above, the ice formation causes disruptions in navigation and can cause delays in shipping traffic.
In addition to the problems caused by ice formation, the locations of the locks and dams have also been known to interrupt shipping currents and create unpredictable and turbulent scenarios. For the most part, though, the depths of the river are still adequate to allow for safe and efficient shipping operations.
Alternative Routes
When the Mississippi River freezes over for extended periods, other navigational routes become available for watercrafts and shipping traffic that cannot traverse the frozen portions of the river.
Alternate routes such as lakes and smaller rivers can be used to circumvent any ice formations along the Mississippi. These routes typically involve additional travel time, though, but can be advantageous for avoiding delays and major disruptions in normal navigation regulations.
Effect on River Wildlife
One aspect of the freezing process that is often overlooked is its effect on local wildlife. The United States Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) keep a close eye on the ice formation on the Mississippi River and its effects on the river’s diverse wildlife.
The USFWS works to manage potential disruptions to habitats and migrations caused by the freezing temperatures. They monitor changing river depth, water levels, and water chemistry to ensure that any potential freezing is carefully monitored and managed.
Mitigating Erosion
Another area where the freezing of the Mississippi River can have a negative effect is in erosion. The river’s banks can erode away when the ice formation becomes too thick and heavy.
To mitigate this erosion, local authorities will sometimes build special structures along the banks of the river. These structures are designed to break up the ice formations, ensuring that the river’s movement is not impeded and its shallower levels aren’t put under pressure.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the Mississippi River is capable of freezing, much of its potential to do so is diminished by its large size, the constant movement of its current, and man-made alterations such as locks and dams. When it does freeze, disruptions to shipping can often occur, as well as a myriad of environmental impacts. To help prevent freezing, solutions such as de-icing booms, increased flow rates, and icebreakers are often employed. Despite the freezing, though, the Mississippi remains an important and integral part of life in the United States, providing transportation links and recreational activities for many years to come.
