Sea-Ice Removal Techniques for Winter Quarters Bay, Antarctica.

• Main Authors: Brier,F. W., Vaudrey,K. D.
• Other Authors: CIVIL ENGINEERING LAB (NAVY) PORT HUENEME CALIF
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1975
• Subjects: Snow; Ice and Permafrost; Civil Engineering; *Sea ice; Removal; Trenching; Machines; Excavation; Ice formation; Docks; Antarctic regions; Cold weather operations; Antarctic; Breaker; Winter Quarters Bay; Antarc*; Antarctica; Ice; permafrost; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA018950; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA018950

During the winter months of DF-73 an artificial ice wharf was constructed in Winter Quarters Bay, Antarctica, to serve as a temporary docking facility. In January 1974, the artificial wharf cracked at several locations during ice breaker maneuvering to clear annual sea ice from the Bay. Subsequent discussion indicated that an area of open water adjacent to its seaward face would have prevented the damage. This report describes testing of a modified earth trencher to create an open-water area in the Bay. The trenching machine exceeded initial estimates of cutting speed, but rapid freeze-back of the trench prevented creation of an open-water area.