Ch. 14] FUTURE RESEARCH NEEDED 269 



plosives, planting of mines, and other more indirect ways (Edwards, 

 1949; Navy Department, 1948-49). Military operations commonly re- 

 quire extreme speed in construction, procuring of water supply, or 

 movement of men and material. Unfortunately it is not always hu- 

 manly possible to exercise such speed (Fagin, 1947). Large excava- 

 tions require natural thawing, aided possibly by sprinkling (Huttl, 

 1948), to proceed ahead of the earth movers. Conversely, seasonal 

 thaw may be so deep as to prevent the movement of heavy equipment 

 over swampy ground until freeze-up. Or, similarly, it may be neces- 

 sary in a heavy building to steam- jet piles into permafrost and allow 

 them to freeze in place before loading them. These tasks take time, 

 and proper planning is a prerequisite for efficient operation. 



Camouflage is a problem on the tundra. Little relief or change in 

 vegetation is available. Tracks of heavy vehicles or paths stand out 

 in marked contrast for years. It is easy to see in aerial photographs 

 foot paths and dog-sled trails abandoned 10 years or more ago. 



Mortar and shell fire, land mines, shaped charges, and other ex- 

 plosives undoubtedly respond to changes in the character of perma- 

 frost, but no data are available to the author. 



FUTURE RESEARCH NEEDED 



Throughout the foregoing pages brief reference is made to aspects 

 of permafrost or effects of permafrost on engineering, geologic, biologic, 

 and other scientific problems for which few factual data are available. 

 However in the event that the reader has received the impression that 

 a great deal is known of permafrost, it is pointed out that the science 

 of frozen ground is relatively young and immature. It has lacked a 

 coordinated and comprehensive investigation by geologists, engineers, 

 physicists, botanists, climatologists, and other scientists. It is barely 

 in the beginning of the descriptive stages, and only now is it receiv- 

 ing the world-wide attention it deserves. 



As our civilization presses northward, the practical needs of con- 

 struction, water supply, sewage disposal, trafficability, and other en- 

 gineering problems must be solved speedily and economically. Our 

 present knowledge is relatively meager, and trial-and-error methods 

 are being used much too frequently. Practical laboratory experiments 

 (Taber, 1930a, b) and controlled field experimental stations, such as 

 that at Fairbanks, Alaska (Jaillite, 1947) , are needed in various situa- 

 tions in the permafrost areas. From these stations methods and tech- 

 niques of construction can be standardized and appropriate steps taken 

 to meet a particular situation. Such laboratories must be supple- 



