Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
10,000
ALLOWABLE ICE FLEXURAL STRESS (kPa)
200
400
600
800
1000
1500
2000
1,000
Minimum 250 mm required for
aircraft operations.
100
10
100
1,000
10,000
Gross weight of aircraft (kN)
Figure 1.12
Minimum thickness recommended for landing aircraft on sea ice as functions of flexural strength
(from Fig. 1 in
Sinha et al.
, 1996].
Figure 1.14
Boeing 727 on first‐year sea ice in Frederick Hyde
Fjord, Greenland, in May 1994; the foreground shows snow‐
free surface (photo by N. K. Sinha, unpublished).
Figure 1.13
Search and rescue (SAR) Twin Otter of the
Canadian Armed Forces on a snow covered refrozen lead in FY
sea ice near Beechey Island, Nunavut, Canada (photo by
N. K. Sinha, unpublished).
recreational trails and winter sports throughout Canada.
Increase in tourism in the Arctic is also opening new
opportunities for use of sea ice covers and the land.
Snowmobiles replaced the dog teams almost 40 years
ago, but nothing could replace the supreme yet elegant
design of the traditional Inuit sledges. Only difference is
that the sledges are pulled by the snowmobiles. Dog teams
and rides on sea ice have become the sources of tourist
attractions (Figure 1.15).
Knowledge of sea ice and its conditions year after year
in their areas of activities are critical to the survival of
Inuit culture and language. With the advent in microwave
turquois in color. An example of unloading the aircraft is
shown in Figure 1.14, we which also shows clearly the
snow‐free surface of the ice.
Frozen seas also provide vital links for surface trans-
portation between the communities and hunting oppor-
tunities in the Arctic and subarctic areas of many
northern countries, especially Canada. Use of ice covers
for transportation, however, is not limited only to the
waters covered with sea ice. Ice surfaces of frozen lakes
and rivers are routinely used for making temporary
runways, winter roads for transportation of goods, and
