Arctic Field Equipment

Abstract

Reports designs of equipment developed since 1959 for the Defence Research Establishment Pacific of the Defence Research Board of Canada, making underwater acoustic measurements on the sea ice in Canadian Arctic Islands waters. A triangular ice drill tip, and an inflatable plug to prevent transducers from being trapped below the ice by refreezing of the holes are described, as is with illus a recovery method for underwater equipment which is unattended for several months, the so-called rope trick. The last is an open-ended cylinder wrapped with nylon rope embedded in a silicon rubber having a low tensile strength. An aluminum sled with four rather than two runners reduces slamming by conforming to the ice roughness. A 7 x 4 x 1 ft, 100 lb emergency shelter termed instant igloo includes a kerosene-fired stove and a fiberglass-and-foam-plastic sandwich floor. A large main shelter and its heating and snow meltwater systems are also described.