Concentrations of dissolved oxygen under winter ice cover were studied during the winter of 1982–1983 in two Yukon rivers, the Nordenskiold and Takhini. Oxygen in both rivers became depleted during the winter. The depletion of oxygen was more severe in the river with higher organic carbon concentrations. The development and progression of the depressions appears to be related to physical processes as well as biological consumption. About 80% of the depression takes place during the formation of the ice cover. The results are in agreement with earlier reports of depressions of dissolved oxygen under ice. The depression of oxygen we observed during formation of the ice was much more rapid than had been previously described. The level of dissolved oxygen in these rivers was found to return to the saturation concentration before the ice cover broke up.
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Whitfield et al. (1986) studied this question.