The science behind our blue ice runway. Every building or infrastructure project in Antarctica is planned at least two years in advance. And even once a runway is built, that doesn’t mean the work is over. Ice in Antarctica is always inching northward toward the ocean, so last year’s perfect position for a runway will now have to be moved accordingly. On average, the ice migrates about 80 meters north per year. The first people to go to Antarctica are surveyors, who are tasked with choosing the right place for a 3km ice runway. The spot is chosen based on gradients, and then flags are placed to mark the parameters. Next, special machines called Pistenbullys go back and forth across the ice field, creating grooves. Blue Ice runways require areas that are free from an accumulation of snow where the hard compacted ice is dense and, capable of supporting the heavy weight of wheeled aircraft as opposed to the lightweight and more common ski-fitted aircraft like the De Havilland Twin Ot...