Editor’s note: Part 1 of this article appeared in the January 2020 issue.
As mentioned in Part 1 of this article, ice accretion and accumulation are a cause of concern in cold countries that have regular snowfall in the winter months. Snow and ice affect roads, outdoor structures and transportation, and make maintenance difficult. Ice accumulation can be called a global problem, as it hampers functionality and safety, apart from causing colossal expenditure. On a fundamental level, ice and snow make roads dangerous and disrupt road transportation. Mechanical failures, insulator flashovers and power outages can be consequences of ice accumulation on structures. And the aviation industry faces problems due to the effect on aircraft engines, as well as a reduction in lift diagnostic performance and fuel efficiency. According to available statistics, there were significant losses from snowstorms in Oklahoma and Eastern Canada between 1998 and 2007. In the United States, snow and ice caused 135 plane crashes and 171 casualties between 1993 and 2004. Also, 140 communication towers collapsed in the United States between 1959 and 1994 due to snow. Snowfall could also affect power production in wind turbines.