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Australian scientists to build Antarctica runway

Tuesday, 07 March 2017 3:14 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 07 March 2017 4:11 AM ]

©AFP

Scientists in Australia have decided to expand their access to Antarctica by building a new runway which will be accessible by plane throughout the year.

Demand for year-round access to East Antarctica is growing not just for Australia but nearby stations like China, India and Russia. If it's developed, it is expected to become an international hub.

The project team is discovering two different potential sites in the area. The existing runway on Antarctica, the Wilkins, is not reliable. Global warming has made it unusable during several months.

The new runway would be constructed out of glacial ice and covered by ice to raise friction levels for wheeled aircraft maneuvers and develop protection of the ice surface from melting.

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