The closure of airport runways due to snow has naturally led to inquiries about how countries with colder climates avoid grinding to a halt during harsh winter weather.
In recent days, to permit snowplows to clear airport runways.
In response to the question of why airports in countries more accustomed to snow do not seem to experience the same level of disruptions, Manchester Airport attributed it primarily to one factor - the "type of snow".
Airports reported that icy weather creates even conditions making it easier to clear, as snow below -2C is typically more stable and easier to remove than more slippery temperatures that cause slush and ice.
Why close runways?
Airports shut down runways when there is a certain level of snowfall to enable snowplows to operate unimpeded and clear the entire runway area promptly.
In Manchester's case, there are over thirty snow plows on standby for this reason.
The airport stated that clearing the snow constitutes "no small task" for these teams, with over 20 miles of runways and taxiways that need to be cleared.
Some have asked why runways cannot be treated with grit in advance of foreseen snowfall.
The airport's roads, including parking areas and walkways, are coated with a substance to help prevent slipping on icy surfaces, but this substance is not suitable for use on the airfield because it can harm aircraft if it comes into contact with them.
Instead, a special de-icing fluid that prevents surfaces from freezing and thaws snow is used on runways, but even that can't stop build-ups in heavy snow, the airport stated.
Snow is drier and simpler to clear below -2 degrees Celsius, whereas at warmer temperatures, when not all the moisture has frozen, it is slippery and more complicated to clear.
"This is part of the reason why airports in colder regions can operate normally during regular snow events," the airport spokesperson said.
An airport spokesperson stated, "sophisticated" systems predict the weather at the airport to advise staff of potential snowfall, and the chances of it accumulating on the tarmac.
"This enables us to prepare by assigning additional personnel and cleaning the surfaces throughout the airport," the spokesperson said.
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