DCHP-3

break-up

DCHP-2 (Oct 2016)

Spelling variants:
breakup, break up

1an. — Outdoors

the spring thawing of ice on rivers and lakes, especially the point in time when the ice on rivers breaks into pieces that are flushed away by the current.

Type: 3. Semantic Change — Break-up is a noun referring to the melting and "breaking up" of ice on completely frozen rivers and lakes in the spring. The point in time of this event is important as river navigation can resume soon after. Break-up has been recorded by sailors and traders for over a century (see the 1874 quotation) and is most celebrated at Dawson City (see CBC reference), which lies at the intersection between the Yukon and Klondike Rivers (see references to watch a video of the 2013 break-up). Locals bet on the precise minute that the ice begins to crack, often winning a large pool of money if close enough (see the 1949 and 2015 quotations). The Yukon River Breakup website (see reference) lists dates and exact times of each year's break-up as far back as 1896. Use of the verb "break up" in this sense goes back to the early 18th century (see also "break up" v.), while the noun appears around the mid-19th century in the sources.

In addition to its cultural significance, break-up records in conjunction with "freeze-up" dates have provided data for shifting global temperatures and offer evidence for global warming (see Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment 2003: 17-18). As noted by Sandford (2012: 183-185), shifting break-up times and subsequent flooding and "ice jams" can leave a detrimental ecological impact on Dawson City and across the North.

See also COD-2, s.v. "breakup" (4), which is marked "Cdn" and Gage-3, s.v. "break-up"(1), which is marked "Cdn.".

Quotations

1845
I had directed that the piles should be cut away at low water or a foot under it, so that the river on the "break up" would float the ice over them [...].
1874
The ice at Quebec, after holding firm to an almost unprecedentedly late day, moved on Friday last, 8th inst., with tremendous force, and the river is at last clear, but the break-up has left some disasters behind it to render the present spring memorable.
1923
Although the last boat of the year to proceed downstream, the Gaspesia will not have the harrowing experience of the John S. Thom, a river steamer which got nipped last season at the same period on the ice near Sorel. The John S. Thom had a cargo of coal and had to spend the winter in mid-stream, only being released with the greatest difficulty when the breakup took place.
1949
They've got a new electric clock to time the ice breakup on the Yukon River and this year it may mean more than $10,000 for someone who makes the closest guess.
1965
Residents of the town gauge the arrival of spring every year by the departure of the ice mantle. Already this year there are signs of a break-up
1979
John Todd of the Ministry of Natural Resources suggests the fishing will probably get even better. As we move into late February and early March more splake and young jack rainbow will congregate in the shallows. The ice-fishing will be at its best shortly before the spring break-up.
1987
A better solution to this problem was found in the 1920s when the headwaters of Marsh Lake were dammed. Workers could then release a surge of water from the dam to speed the break-up of the lake ice.
1993
At this time of year, we make a point of taking regular excursions to the Rideau River to watch the progress of spring breakup. Open water first appears at the rapids, then extends up and down river until the ice is carried off in the torrent. Given the amount of snow, this year's breakup should be long and spectacular.
2002
Sadly, the break-up occurred just hours after the departure of the delegates to the annual general meeting of the Association of Yukon Communities. Several had expressed a strong interest in seeing the ice leave the river.
2015
[With embedded video of the 2015 break-up] Whoever guessed closest to Monday, May 4th at 6:41 pm was right. That's when the ice on the Yukon River at Dawson City started to move this year, as temperatures reached 12 degrees on Monday. The annual breakup is a sure sign of spring.
1bn. — Outdoors

the melting of the frozen ground and snow in spring; spring thaw.

Type: 3. Semantic Change — Break-up also refers to changes on land as a result of warmer temperatures. See meaning 1a.
See: breaking-up(def. 1),freeze-up

Quotations

1860
We have every prospect of an early break-up.
1916
Old timers and wise acres now inform us that we are only beginning the rigors of the winter and that if we get a thaw before the middle of March we will be doing exceptionally well. In the experience of some old timers this is very nearly a record winter, but precedent suggests that the break-up will be much later.
1962
Breakup came early and green grass followed hard on the last of it.
1979
Provincial deer biologist Murray Smith said an early thaw was a factor in reducing starvation. The breakup started a full month before it did in 1978. That's important. The deer's food supply is often restricted at a time when their metabolic rate starts to increase.
1999
Basic communication and transportation infrastructure is unevenly developed in the North, and it is often fragile or intermittent. Roads are closed seasonally or during freeze-up and breakup.
2003
Johnson added flooding caused by a quick melt combined with frozen ground has the potential to exacerbate the situation. Centre Wellington public works superintendent Les Davidson said deeper than usual frost "will come back to haunt us during the break up. "It will be a pothole-filling expedition from now until the snow's gone," said Davidson, noting water from melting snow and ice has nowhere to go.
2011
The thaw is coming slowly. This is probably a good thing, even though we're all a little impatient! Please, if you haven't done so already, shovel snow away from the foundations of your house and make sure the downspouts are pointing the right way. (No snow left on my roof, but...) Here's hoping that our basements make it through the break up without a flood!
2n. — Outdoors

the period of time taken for the ice in rivers and lakes to soften, crack up, and disappear.

Type: 3. Semantic Change — See meaning 1a. This meaning is equivalent to the term break-up period, which is also in use.
See also Gage-3, s.v. "break-up" (2), which is marked "Cdn.".

Quotations

1919
The first is the break-up, that day in April in which the relentless hand of the ice-fanged Boreas relaxes his grip on the land, when the streams run swiftly and chatter as they run [...].
1938
The Mackenzie delta at its mouth is ninety to one hundred and twenty miles wide, and is a vast network of sloughs, lakes and rivers, separated by low-lying land that, during the breakup [. . .] is completely submerged.
1961
The ferry operation across the Mackenzie River at Mile 82 [...] is discontinued during fall freeze-up and spring break-up.
1975
Spring break-up had started and no planes could get in or out.
2011
Observers credited the jump to March's late winter blast that kept the ground cold enough to support the weight of heavy drilling rigs. The seasonal thaw, or "breakup" is characterized by mushy drilling leases and road bans that restrict movement of heavy machinery.

References