ICE RUNWAY INVESTIGATIONS ON THE ELLESMERE ICE SHELF
Abstract
In order to obtain specific knowledge of the engineering characteristics of ice as found on natural fresh water i ce islands, studies were made on the Ellesmere Ice Shelf in the fall of 1959 and the summer of 1960. Three major forms of fresh water ice were found in this area: moat, rise and shelf ice. Flooded ice plots were constructed on the Ice Shelf during the fall season of 1959. The following summer, observations were made on the constructed ice and the adjacent natural ice. Measurements were made to determine the problems and effort involved in the construction of aircraft runways on each major ice form and small test plots were used to investigate controlled melting by increasing the effective solar energy absorption in the ice sheet. Cons ucted ice melted more uniformly during thaw than natural ice, although it ablated about the same amount. Construction of an ice runway appeared feasible on either an ice rise or an ice ridge but not on an ice moat. A considerable construction effort involving both ice removal and ice fill would be required to develop a runway conforming to Navy and Air Force standards. (Autho 0
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 27, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0284309
Entities
People
- D.e. Well
- N.l. Slover
Organizations
- Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center