Practical Aspects of Establishing Snow and Ice Runways at JARE Stations: In the Context of the East Antarctic Air Network

"A feasibility study has been undertaken to improve air support for the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE) by establishing hard-surface runways near TARE stations and introducing an intercontinental air operation. Historical meteorological observations for JARE stations have been rev...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Valery Klokov, Kazuyuki Shiraishi
Format: Report
Language:English
Published: Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute/National Institute of Poler Research 1997
Subjects:
Online Access:https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_uri&item_id=35
http://id.nii.ac.jp/1291/00000035/
https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=35&item_no=1&attribute_id=18&file_no=1
Description
Summary:"A feasibility study has been undertaken to improve air support for the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE) by establishing hard-surface runways near TARE stations and introducing an intercontinental air operation. Historical meteorological observations for JARE stations have been reviewed. Two major parameters, prevailing wind direction and maximum temperature, have been examined because they have a dominant influence on snow-ice runway construction. The glaciological conditions near Syowa Station, Asuka Station and in Yamato Mountains were considered to identify the favorable sites for hard-surface runway construction. The analysis shows that the Syowa area is suitable for construction and operation of runways on both compacted snow and blue ice. Construction techniques and logistic facilities for snow-ice runway construction are briefly outlined. The general characteristics of aircraft that are of practical interest in Antarctica are summarized."