SNOWDRIFT ON THE ROSS ICE SHELF, 1965-66.

• Main Author: Stehle,N. S.
• Other Authors: NAVAL CIVIL ENGINEERING LAB PORT HUENEME CALIF
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1966
• Subjects: Snow; Ice and Permafrost; (*SNOW; *ANTARCTIC REGIONS); (*LOGISTICS; SNOW); RUNWAYS; DRIFT; STORMS; MAINTENANCE; ICE; SURFACES; MEASUREMENT; BUILDINGS; ROADS; ABLATION; ROSS ICE SHELF; SNOWDRIFTS; Antarctic; Ross Ice Shelf; McMurdo Station; Antarc*; Antarctica; Ice; Ice Shelf; permafrost
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0684421; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0684421

Drifting snow in polar areas results in problems of logistics and maintenance. To obtain knowledge of snowdrift and accumulation on the Ross Ice Shelf near McMurdo Station, Antarctica, the U. S. Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory has been measuring drift in camp and storage areas, and around depressed and elevated roads and runways since 1961. The data from 1965-66 are summarized in this report. From these measurements, it was concluded that elevated surfaces accumulate little drift during storms, and should be used whenever possible for roads, runways, and equipment storage. At- and below-surface areas often accumulate considerable snow during storms and their use should be avoided; where at-surface areas must be used, berms and other obstructions should be eliminated or minimized. (Author)