EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - M98_010011
Protection during peak solar period
Test flights
COST AND BENEFITS
LIMITS TO LIFE EXPECTANCY
FUTURE
Construction, Maintenance, and Operation of a Glacial Ice Runway, McMurdo Station, Antarctica
Figure 1. Map of McMurdo area
Figure 2. Satellite image of McMurdo and Scott Base (New Zealand) located on the tip of Hut Point Peninsula
CHAPTER 2. SITE INVESTIGATION
Figure 3. Thickness of floating freshwater ice recommended to support various size aircraft
Figure 5. Example of milky glacial ice
Figure 6. Stressstrain curve from ice at a depth of 10.515.5 cm, extracted at the south end of the runway
Figure 7. Stressstrain curve from ice at a depth of 2027 cm, extracted at the south end of the runway
Ice surface characteristics
Snow depth, accumulation, and ablation
Figure 12. Airphotos of transition between zones of accumulation and ablation
Figure 12. Continued - M98_010028
Trend of accumulation/ablation transition
Figure 13. Location of Pegasus runway relative to regional glaciological zones
Movement of glacier
Figure 15. Mineral deposits in concentrated bands in ice
Flight plate
Figure 18. Moving sand trapped in sharp surface features on snow surface
Logistical suitability
Figure 20. Wheeled loader.
Ice temperature profile
Figure 22. Automatic weather station installed at the Pegasus site
Solar radiation - M98_010039
Figure 24. Radiometer pair used to measure albedo of snow and ice surfaces
Topography and ice movement
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT EVALUATION
CHAPTER 3. CONSTRUCTION
Figure 25. Shelter for workers at Pegasus runway
Figure 26. Tool shed and latrine at Pegasus runway
Initial open-up
Figure 28. Initial snow stripping on the Pegasus runway using a bulldozer with U-blade
Figure 29. Adjustable skids used to hold equipment blades a fixed distance above the ice surface
Figure 31. Rolba ribbon-type snowblower mounted on Oshkosh truck
RUNWAY CONSTRUCTION
Figure 33. Custom-built aggressive grader blade used for initial rough grading of runway
Figure 34. Aggressive grader blade removing up to 20 cm (8 in.) of glacial ice in one pass
Figure 36. Attitude of grader and chisel-teeth during grading
Figure 38. Mineral matter trapped in the ice
Figure 41. Poorly consolidated ice including snow pockets
Filling of low areas
Preparations for final grading
Final ice grading
Figure 46. Geometry of individual chisel teeth
SNOW MANAGEMENT DURING CONSTRUCTION
Figure 48. Small windrows trapping blowing snow
SNOW MANAGEMENT DURING CONSTRUCTION-continue
CHAPTER 4. RUNWAY CERTIFICATION
Figure 49. Cart for proof rolling the Pegasus runway shown configured for C-130 landing gear; ballast is steel plate
Figure 50. Proof cart configured for C-141 landing gear
Figure 51. Site of failed runway ice caused by proof cart
Figure 53. Failure planes in ice extending into sides of main cavity of failed area
Figure 55. Horizontal and vertical thin sections of core sample removed from the Pegasus runway surface at the 6000-ft zone
Figure 55. Continued - M98_010069
Figure 55. Continued - M98_010070
Figure 56. Horizontal and vertical thin sections of core sample removed from the Pegasus runway surface at the 10,000-ft zone
Figure 58. Dissected ice blister showing gap between upper melt/refreeze ice and lower natural glacial ice
PATCHING
Figure 59. Ice failure site cleaned out and ready for patching
Figure 60. Freshwater filling of cavity during patching
ROUGHNESS SURVEY
FLIGHT TEST
Figure 65. LC-130 operating on wheels during runway testing of Pegasus in February 1993
Figure 66. First tracks of aircraft tires on newly constructed glacial ice runway
Figure 67. C-141 takeoff from the Pegasus runway following successful tests in February 1994
CHAPTER 5. MAINTENANCE
Figure 68. Windrow drag used to encourage snow accumulation
Figure 71. Long-base (12-m, or 40-ft) snow plane with height adjustability
Figure 73. Drag made from heavy I-beam
RUNWAY SMOOTHNESS, SURFACE DEFINITION, AND FRICTION COEFFICIENT
SURFACE CLEANLINESS
SURFACE CLEANLINESS-continue
PREVENTING OCCURRENCE OF MELT FEATURES
Figure 77. Bulk extinction coefficient for snow
Figure 79. Ice surface temperatures at 2000-ft marker on the east edge of the runway throughout the 1992-93 and 1993-94 austral summers
Requirements for protective snow cover
Figure 80. Adjustable skids used to assist in "floating" grader blade
Snow surface characteristics
Removal of protective snow cover
MONITORING AND DATA ACQUISITION
CHAPTER 6. OPERATIONS
INFRASTRUCTURE
Figure 81. Exclusion zone maintained on the Pegasus runway during air operations
Figure 82. General location of support facilities at Pegasus during air operations
EMERGENCY PROVISIONS
WEATHER OBSERVATIONS
AIRCRAFT PARKING
PROOF ROLLING
SCHEDULING
CHAPTER 7. FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS
DEMONSTRATED UTILITY
ENHANCED OPERATIONAL WINDOWS
SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVE LANDING SITES
LITERATURE CITED-continue - M98_010109
LITERATURE CITED-continue - M98_010110
APPENDIX A: METEOROLOGICAL ANALYSES OF THE PEGASUS RUNWAY SITE
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE PEGASUS SITE-continue
APPENDIX B: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PEGASUS RUNWAY
PHILOSOPHY OF THE U.S. ANTARCTIC PROGRAM IN MINIMIZING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
SCOPE OF THE IEE
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Figure B2. McMurdo Sound and vicinity
Figure B3. Potential blue-ice runway sites
Development of a blue-ice runway at the Pegasus site (Pegasus II)
No-action alternative at the Pegasus site
Development of a blue-ice runway at Mount Howe
AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES
Environmental consequences of developing a runway at the Pegasus site
Mount Howe site and Mill Glacier sites
Other potential blue-ice runway site
FINDINGS - M98_010126
LITERATURE CITED - M98_010127
LITERATURE CITED-continue - M98_010128
APPENDIX C: CROSS-SECTIONAL PROFILES OVER TIME OF THE PEGASUS RUNWAY INCLUDING FLANKING BERMS
Figure C5. Survey profile of the snow surface over time
APPENDIX D: TEMPERATURE PROFILES FROM THE PEGASUS RUNWAY ICE
Figure D4. Peak daily temperature in the runway ice at the 8000-ft station during the 1992-93 austral summer
Figure D6. Peak daily temperature in the runway ice at the 5000-ft station during the 1993-94 austral summer.
Figure D9. Average daily temperature in the runway ice at the 4000-ft station during the 1992-93 austral summer
Figure D12. Average daily temperature in the runway ice at the 2000-ft station during the 1993-94 austral summer
APPENDIX E: AS-BUILT LAYOUT OF THE PEGASUS RUNWAY AND RUNWAY MARKERS
Figure E2. Details of markers for distance remaining, leadin, and ground plane definition
Report Documentation Page - M98_010138
M98_01
Protection during peak solar period
Test flights
COST AND BENEFITS
LIMITS TO LIFE EXPECTANCY
FUTURE
Construction, Maintenance, and Operation of a Glacial Ice Runway, McMurdo Station, Antarctica
Figure 1. Map of McMurdo area
Figure 2. Satellite image of McMurdo and Scott Base (New Zealand) located on the tip of Hut Point Peninsula
CHAPTER 2. SITE INVESTIGATION
Figure 3. Thickness of floating freshwater ice recommended to support various size aircraft
Figure 5. Example of milky glacial ice
Figure 6. Stressstrain curve from ice at a depth of 10.515.5 cm, extracted at the south end of the runway
Figure 7. Stressstrain curve from ice at a depth of 2027 cm, extracted at the south end of the runway
Ice surface characteristics
Snow depth, accumulation, and ablation
Figure 12. Airphotos of transition between zones of accumulation and ablation
Figure 12. Continued - M98_010028
Trend of accumulation/ablation transition
Figure 13. Location of Pegasus runway relative to regional glaciological zones
Movement of glacier
Figure 15. Mineral deposits in concentrated bands in ice
Flight plate
Figure 18. Moving sand trapped in sharp surface features on snow surface
Logistical suitability
Figure 20. Wheeled loader.
Ice temperature profile
Figure 22. Automatic weather station installed at the Pegasus site
Solar radiation - M98_010039
Figure 24. Radiometer pair used to measure albedo of snow and ice surfaces
Topography and ice movement
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT EVALUATION
CHAPTER 3. CONSTRUCTION
Figure 25. Shelter for workers at Pegasus runway
Figure 26. Tool shed and latrine at Pegasus runway
Initial open-up
Figure 28. Initial snow stripping on the Pegasus runway using a bulldozer with U-blade
Figure 29. Adjustable skids used to hold equipment blades a fixed distance above the ice surface
Figure 31. Rolba ribbon-type snowblower mounted on Oshkosh truck
RUNWAY CONSTRUCTION
Figure 33. Custom-built aggressive grader blade used for initial rough grading of runway
Figure 34. Aggressive grader blade removing up to 20 cm (8 in.) of glacial ice in one pass
Figure 36. Attitude of grader and chisel-teeth during grading
Figure 38. Mineral matter trapped in the ice
Figure 41. Poorly consolidated ice including snow pockets
Filling of low areas
Preparations for final grading
Final ice grading
Figure 46. Geometry of individual chisel teeth
SNOW MANAGEMENT DURING CONSTRUCTION
Figure 48. Small windrows trapping blowing snow
SNOW MANAGEMENT DURING CONSTRUCTION-continue
CHAPTER 4. RUNWAY CERTIFICATION
Figure 49. Cart for proof rolling the Pegasus runway shown configured for C-130 landing gear; ballast is steel plate
Figure 50. Proof cart configured for C-141 landing gear
Figure 51. Site of failed runway ice caused by proof cart
Figure 53. Failure planes in ice extending into sides of main cavity of failed area
Figure 55. Horizontal and vertical thin sections of core sample removed from the Pegasus runway surface at the 6000-ft zone
Figure 55. Continued - M98_010069
Figure 55. Continued - M98_010070
Figure 56. Horizontal and vertical thin sections of core sample removed from the Pegasus runway surface at the 10,000-ft zone
Figure 58. Dissected ice blister showing gap between upper melt/refreeze ice and lower natural glacial ice
PATCHING
Figure 59. Ice failure site cleaned out and ready for patching
Figure 60. Freshwater filling of cavity during patching
ROUGHNESS SURVEY
FLIGHT TEST
Figure 65. LC-130 operating on wheels during runway testing of Pegasus in February 1993
Figure 66. First tracks of aircraft tires on newly constructed glacial ice runway
Figure 67. C-141 takeoff from the Pegasus runway following successful tests in February 1994
CHAPTER 5. MAINTENANCE
Figure 68. Windrow drag used to encourage snow accumulation
Figure 71. Long-base (12-m, or 40-ft) snow plane with height adjustability
Figure 73. Drag made from heavy I-beam
RUNWAY SMOOTHNESS, SURFACE DEFINITION, AND FRICTION COEFFICIENT
SURFACE CLEANLINESS
SURFACE CLEANLINESS-continue
PREVENTING OCCURRENCE OF MELT FEATURES
Figure 77. Bulk extinction coefficient for snow
Figure 79. Ice surface temperatures at 2000-ft marker on the east edge of the runway throughout the 1992-93 and 1993-94 austral summers
Requirements for protective snow cover
Figure 80. Adjustable skids used to assist in "floating" grader blade
Snow surface characteristics
Removal of protective snow cover
MONITORING AND DATA ACQUISITION
CHAPTER 6. OPERATIONS
INFRASTRUCTURE
Figure 81. Exclusion zone maintained on the Pegasus runway during air operations
Figure 82. General location of support facilities at Pegasus during air operations
EMERGENCY PROVISIONS
WEATHER OBSERVATIONS
AIRCRAFT PARKING
PROOF ROLLING
SCHEDULING
CHAPTER 7. FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS
DEMONSTRATED UTILITY
ENHANCED OPERATIONAL WINDOWS
SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVE LANDING SITES
LITERATURE CITED-continue - M98_010109
LITERATURE CITED-continue - M98_010110
APPENDIX A: METEOROLOGICAL ANALYSES OF THE PEGASUS RUNWAY SITE
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE PEGASUS SITE-continue
APPENDIX B: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PEGASUS RUNWAY
PHILOSOPHY OF THE U.S. ANTARCTIC PROGRAM IN MINIMIZING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
SCOPE OF THE IEE
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Figure B2. McMurdo Sound and vicinity
Figure B3. Potential blue-ice runway sites
Development of a blue-ice runway at the Pegasus site (Pegasus II)
No-action alternative at the Pegasus site
Development of a blue-ice runway at Mount Howe
AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES
Environmental consequences of developing a runway at the Pegasus site
Mount Howe site and Mill Glacier sites
Other potential blue-ice runway site
FINDINGS - M98_010126
LITERATURE CITED - M98_010127
LITERATURE CITED-continue - M98_010128
APPENDIX C: CROSS-SECTIONAL PROFILES OVER TIME OF THE PEGASUS RUNWAY INCLUDING FLANKING BERMS
Figure C5. Survey profile of the snow surface over time
APPENDIX D: TEMPERATURE PROFILES FROM THE PEGASUS RUNWAY ICE
Figure D4. Peak daily temperature in the runway ice at the 8000-ft station during the 1992-93 austral summer
Figure D6. Peak daily temperature in the runway ice at the 5000-ft station during the 1993-94 austral summer.
Figure D9. Average daily temperature in the runway ice at the 4000-ft station during the 1992-93 austral summer
Figure D12. Average daily temperature in the runway ice at the 2000-ft station during the 1993-94 austral summer
APPENDIX E: AS-BUILT LAYOUT OF THE PEGASUS RUNWAY AND RUNWAY MARKERS
Figure E2. Details of markers for distance remaining, leadin, and ground plane definition
Report Documentation Page - M98_010138
M98_01
