Environmental Guide for Arctic Testing Activities at Fort Greely, Alaska

The physical environment of the Fort Greely area is analyzed and evaluated with special reference given to the significance of climate, terrain, and vegetation on testing activities at the various courses and ranges of the test site. Cold spells under -25 and -40F are studied for their frequency and...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sands, Richard D., Ohman, Howard L., Sanger, Fred J.
Other Authors: ARMY NATICK LABS MA EARTH SCIENCES LAB
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 1971
Subjects:
Meteorology
Test Facilities
Equipment and Methods
*CLIMATOLOGY
*COLD WEATHER TESTS
MILITARY FACILITIES
ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE
TERRAIN
DUST
SNOW
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
VISIBILITY
PLANTS(BOTANY)
ICE FOG
FORT GREELY
Arctic
Alaska
Online Access:http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0729350
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0729350
Description
Summary:The physical environment of the Fort Greely area is analyzed and evaluated with special reference given to the significance of climate, terrain, and vegetation on testing activities at the various courses and ranges of the test site. Cold spells under -25 and -40F are studied for their frequency and duration of occurrence at the test areas. It is shown that there is considerable variation in minimum temperature within the area, with Bolio Lake, for example, often being 10 to 15F colder than the main weather station. Differences within one mile may be as great as 40F on some calm, clear winter nights. Even under these conditions, however, temperatures suitable for cold testing are not reached on very many nights, and a temperature of -70F, the design temperature given in Army Regulation 70-38 for extreme cold, has never been attained. The change of a minimum of -25F, the uppermost temperature acceptable for cold tests, is only one in fifteen for any given date between 13 November and 18 March at the main station. Visibility restrictions such as ice fog, blowing dust, and snow are occasionally present during the winter season. Solar and lunar illuminations are discussed and a table of the phases of the moon through 1980 is presented. Prepared in cooperation with Cold Regions Research and Engineering Lab., Hanover, N. H.

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