Figure 72. Heavy (45-tonne or 50-ton capacity) pneumatic-tire roller.
Figure 73. Drag made from heavy I-beam.
naturally as soon as moderate winds return. Even
The shelters and fuel tanks at the runway
if winds do not come up, the loose snow will
will naturally attract snow drifts. This is nearly
rapidly dissipate via evaporation and melting if
unavoidable, unless these facilities can be placed
there are warm temperatures and intense sun.
on stilts. In many cases (as at Pegasus), the run-
When snow accumulation is undesirable, and
way infrastructure will be on site only season-
windblown snow is being trapped on the run-
ally, so elevated buildings may be unattractive
way, we found that it was best to drag and plane
and too expensive. The camp infrastructure
the runway nearly continuously to break up drift
should be situated, relative to the runway, where
pods as they formed. By removing the features
it is least likely to generate drifts that impinge on
that trap drifting snow, and keeping the surface
the runway. Individual structures should be
snow loosened, most of the snow would either
aligned along a line perpendicular to the strong
remain in the wind stream or be picked up by the
wind direction, so that when large drifts do
wind and carried out of the area of the runway.
occur, they do not fill up the space between
During windy conditions, any device that loos-
buildings. Cleanup (snow removal and surface
ened and broke the surface layer of snow into
smoothing) around the runway facilities will be
small pieces would enable the wind to pick it up
required after most storms, but this effort can
and carry it away.
be minimized by having the infrastructure sled-
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