the climatic conditions and weather, by variations in the appli- 

 cation of standard principles, and by the special equipment, 

 training, techniques and procedures necessary to overcome the 

 limitations. 



The principal limitations upon sea operations are navigability, 

 sea-ice, and extreme cold. Northern seas are navigation night- 

 mares — high nebulosity, fog, drift ice, icebergs, pack ice, rough 

 seas, cold water, low-surface air temperatures, sudden and long- 

 continuing storms, and few recognizable land marks. 



Civil and military flying in the Arctic have become routine. 

 Most cold weather flight difficulties occur on the ground. Uncer- 

 tain weather, formation of snow and ice on airplane surfaces, 

 rescue and survival, and lack of adequate conventional naviga- 

 tional aids are the principal limitations. 



In the case of military operations in the Arctic, the significant 

 limitations are lack of transportation facilities, diflficult and un- 

 favorable terrain, and extremes of climate both in summer and 

 winter. 



MAJOR PROBLEMS 



Operations of land, air, and naval forces in the polar regions, 

 even on a limited scale, involve the solution of many problems of 

 environmental adjustment, training, construction, ship building, 

 logistics, research and design. The adaptation of men and ma- 

 chines, on a mass scale, to arctic conditions will be a long and 

 tedious process. That some progress is being made is reassuring. 



Figure 1-9. — Summer scene. Goose Fiord, Ellesmere Island. 



