Arctic Tower
An Arctic Tower is a 20 ft diameter cylindrical radar station structure of the AN/GPA-33 Radar Set Group for protecting a USAF radar's antenna and electronic cabinets. Designed for low temperatures and strong winds, the 25 ft high tower's top platform supported an antenna group and a 20 ft high CW-313/FPS radome which was "capable of withstanding two inches of ice" and winds of 109 knots. The 25,000 lb Arctic Tower was designed for supporting Radar Set AN//TPS-10D or Radar Set AN/TPS-1D, and could support other systems up to a load of 100psf on the 20 foot diameter platform, the interior 2nd floor, or the ground floor. In addition to protecting a radar system, the tower housed other AN/GPA-33 equipment such as the Radome Interior Control Group which included
- a pressure chamber to prevent "loss of radome pressure when entry or exit is made",
- pressurization equipment, e.g., motorized blower and sensing circuit with an interlock to prevent antenna operation at low radome pressures when dimpling of the radome would interfere with antenna movement,
- Electric Desiccant Dehumidifier, a double-bed dehumidifier for inlet air to remove up to 37,000 grams of water per hour at 24°C,
- de-icing lamp banks each with 21 infrared lamps of 375 watts,
- anemometer and Wind Speed Transmitter to allow pressurization to be increased when high winds were measured