Permafrost and infrastructure in the usa Basin (Northeast European Russia): possible impacts of global warming.
The relationship between permafrost conditions and the distribution of infrastructure in the Usa Basin, Northeast European Russia, is analyzed. About 75% of the Basin is underlain by permafrost terrain with various degrees of continuity (isolated patches to continuous permafrost). The region has a high level of urban and industrial development (e.g., towns, coal mines, hydrocarbon extraction sites, railway, pipelines). GIS-analyses indicate that about 60% of all infrastructure is located in the 'high risk' permafrost area, here defined as the zones of isolated to discontinuous permafrost (3-90% coverage) with 'warm' ground temperatures (0 to -2 degrees C). Ground monitoring, aerial photo interpretation, and permafrost modeling suggest a differential response to future global warming. Most of the permafrost-affected terrain will likely start to thaw within a few decades to a century. This forecast poses serious challenges to permafrost engineering and calls for long-term investments in adequate infrastructure that will pay back overtime.
Mazhitova
Galina
G
Soil Science Department, Institute of Biology, Komi Sciencr Center, Syktyvkar, Russia. galina_m@ib.komisc.ru
Karstkarel
Nanka
N
Oberman
Naum
N
Romanovsky
Vladimir
V
Kuhry
Peter
P
D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D007053:Ice; D010781:Photography; D012426:Russia
D007053:Ice