SEASONAL DAMAGE TO THE MCMURDO ICE WHARF DURING DEEP FREEZE 66.
The existing wharf at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, is formed from old sea ice that has accumulated along the western shore of Winter Quarters Bay. Seasonal damage during Deep Freeze 66 consisted of the ice face at the water level being undercut, the overhang caving in, and the resultant loss of crit...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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1966
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| Online Access: | http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0637185 http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0637185 |
| Summary: | The existing wharf at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, is formed from old sea ice that has accumulated along the western shore of Winter Quarters Bay. Seasonal damage during Deep Freeze 66 consisted of the ice face at the water level being undercut, the overhang caving in, and the resultant loss of critically needed sturface area. Uncontrolled meltwater drainage early in the season eroded gullies and potholes in the wharf surface and contributed to the undercutting. During the austral summer of Deep Freeze 66 wave action, high surface-water temperatures, and meltwater drainage were the primary causes of undercutting and erosion. Since it is not economically feasible to control the water temperature, the only way to prevent undercutting is to reduce or eliminate the damage form wave action and to control surface drainage. It was concluded that the face of the wharf should be protected by a splash shield and that the surface of the wharf should be protected by compacted fill and good drainage. It was also concluded that suitable equipment and techniques should be developed for drilling and excavating in the ice-rock mixture at the wharf, and that observations should continue to develop adequate knowledge on the seasonal history of the ice wharf and the protective measures employed. (Author) |
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