Evaluation of an Arctic Ice-Free Land Site and Results of C-130 Aircraft Test Landings. Polaris Promontory, North Greenland 1958-1959

Abstract

Field investigations of an ice-free land area at Polaris Promontory, Hall Land in northwest Greenland were undertaken to determine if this area could support austere military aircraft operations. Detailed scientific observations of the geology, meteorology, and natural terrain features of the area were made, thorough investigations of the soil features and bearing strength were conducted, and an airstrip was prepared and marked. Successful test landings by a C-130 aircraft were made on the airstrip. Possible alternate airstrip sites were studied and conclusions drawn on the usability of such ice-free land sites for military activities. The selection of specific sites in such areas by low altitude aerial reconnaissance and applied photogeologic interpretation methods is feasible and practical. Such techniques, when employed by professionals with considerable field experience in the Arctic regions, are reliable, rapid, and inexpensive.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1961
Accession Number
AD0260228

Entities

People

  • Carlton E. Molineux
  • Donald W. Klick
  • Stanley M. Needleman

Organizations

  • Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircraft Landings
  • Barometric Pressure
  • Bearing Strength
  • Elevation
  • Engineers
  • Geography
  • Geophysics
  • Glaciers
  • Glaciology
  • Measurement
  • Meteorology
  • Pressure Measurement
  • Ridges
  • Surface Properties
  • Terrain
  • Topography
  • United States

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Environmental Remediation and Restoration.
  • Polar and Arctic Studies