Vertical Temperature Simulation of Pegasus Runway, McMurdo Station, Antarctica
Abstract
Pegasus Runway, located 13 km south of McMurdo Station, Antarctica, on the McMurdo Ice Shelf (MIS), is constructed out of snow and ice. It is susceptible to weakening and damage caused by melting and to reduction in the strength caused by warm weather and sunlight. This report describes the development of the Pegasus Runway temperature model. It begins by quantitatively describing the physical properties of the Pegasus Runway snow and ice and the physical properties of the MIS directly beneath the runway. The temperature model is based on a one-dimensional heat conduction model that includes the penetration and absorption of solar radiation beneath the surface. The report describes the methods for estimating the sensible heat, latent heat, shortwave radiation, and long-wave radiation surface heat fluxes that drive the model and presents estimates of the constant-temperature lower-boundary condition for the model. A novel approach for estimating the initial vertical temperature profile is used. We simulate the Pegasus Runway temperatures for three austral summer seasons (2011 12, 2012 13, and 2013 14). The model simulation shows good results when compared to in situ observations of the runway temperatures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA614252
Entities
People
- Christopher Hiemstra
- Robert Haehnel
- Steven F. Daly
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center