Abstract
This chapter examines effects of climate change on human infrastructure in permafrost regions of Siberia. The presence and dynamic nature of ice-rich permafrost constitute a distinctive engineering environment. Many engineering problems in Siberia are associated with (1) changes in the temperature of the upper permafrost, (2) increased depth of seasonal thaw penetration, and (3) progressive thawing and disappearance of permafrost. These changes can lead to loss of soil bearing strength, increased soil permeability, and increased potential for development of such cryogenic processes as differential thaw settlement and heave, and development of thermokarst terrain. Each of these phenomena has the capacity for severe negative consequences on human infrastructure in the high latitudes. Results to date indicate that major permafrost-related impacts have already been detected in many Siberian regions, including changes in the temperature and distribution of permafrost, thickening of the seasonally thawed layer (the active layer), and changes in the distribution and quantity of ice in the ground. A quantitative geographic assessment of the ability of frozen ground to support engineering structures under rapidly changing climatic conditions in a variety of settings is provided in this chapter. Results show substantial decreases of permafrost bearing capacity over the last 40 years in some regions of Northern Siberia. Although a substantial proportion of reported deformations of structures and buildings on permafrost can be attributed to climatic warming, other technogenic factors have to be considered. The socioeconomic crisis resulted in reduced infrastructure monitoring and maintenance in many cities on permafrost during the early 1990s which have greatly contributed to the decrease in infrastructure stability.
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Shiklomanov, N.I., Streletskiy, D.A. (2013). Effect of Climate Change on Siberian Infrastructure. In: Groisman, P., Gutman, G. (eds) Regional Environmental Changes in Siberia and Their Global Consequences. Springer Environmental Science and Engineering. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4569-8_5
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