Network research focuses on the big questions: Where and when is permafrost thaw occurring in Canada and what are the hazards arising from such change?
The research is organized in five interwoven themes requiring a critical mass and diversity of expertise that no single research group or government agency has.
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Background and objectives
Theme 5 applies knowledge of permafrost systems and products developed by the network to priority problems identified by northern communities and agencies. Climate warming, especially in fall and winter, prevails across northern Canada, but has been most rapid in the western Arctic. There, warming began in 1970 and its initial effects on ground temperatures and ground surface conditions are now evident. Throughout northern Canada infrastructure designed for a stable, equilibrium permafrost environment is now at risk. Theme 5 will operate with the knowledge that (a) climate change has affected permafrost with initial consequences apparent in terrain behaviour and infrastructure performance; and (b) the effects of climate change on the ground thermal regime will continue for centuries.
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The objective of Theme 5 is to support northerners in adaptation to permafrost in transition. Theme 5 projects address specific challenges due to thaw of permafrost. The overall goal is to assist northern communities to plan for and manage a changing permafrost environment by providing specific strategies to mitigate effects that are hazardous or debilitating to existing infrastructure. The projects range over several scales, from specific landscape effects near communities to incidents that occur along the length of several hundred km of linear infrastructure. The investigations are field based, to develop research capacity not only with trainee researchers, but also among members of the communities and agencies they will work with. Projects involve numerical simulation of ground thermal regimes in collaboration with Theme 3, to estimate the future magnitude of thaw effects. They also aim to provide the first comprehensive assessments world-wide of the costs that climate change is imposing upon northern agencies based upon data collected since 1995 by Yukon Government. This information will be critical for improving planning capacity in climate change adaptation.
In permafrost regions, the effects of climate change on infrastructure have largely been considered in terms of the susceptibility for thaw and loss of soil bearing capacity. The design of much infrastructure already considers the problem because construction disturbance commonly leads to ground warming by altering surface characteristics and, particularly, snow accumulation patterns. Approaches to mitigating these effects include bridging across thaw susceptible terrain, installation of air convection embankments and engineering adjustment of surface albedo. Theme 5 projects are also investigating the effect of snow management, whose potential to mitigate thaw near highway embankments has been demonstrated by modelling. Recently, the hydrologic effects of climate change have become apparent through increases in rainfall and delay and extension of freeze back in autumn to create icings. Hydrologic effects may present greater short-term hazards than more gradual thaw subsidence either following intense summer rainfall, during freshet, or with unexpected discharges in winter. Assessment of these hazards will be in collaboration with Theme 4.
Theme 5 is concentrating on providing practical approaches to mitigating thaw and on managing the changing hydrologic regime near infrastructure in ways that are effective with the mechanical and human resources that are available.
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Theme 5 participants bring together expertise in permafrost science and infrastructure management with relevance to specific infrastructure, communities, and landscape ecology. The theme relies on close communication between the scientific and engineering staff for diagnosis of challenges facing the infrastructure components that are examined and for testing of proposed mitigation techniques.
Pascale Roy-Léveillée provides expertise in thermokarst geomorphology, Hudson Bay Lowlands, permafrost change detection and working with community partners.
Shawn Kenny provides expertise in infrastructure maintenance and design, operational decision making and information processing for effective management of infrastructure in thawing permafrost.
Collaborators and partners
- F. Calmels
- S.V. Kokelj
- M. Packalen
- S. MacDougall
- C. Stevens
- L. Arenson
- L. Fishback
- J. McLaughlin
Peer-reviewed research findings are listed on our Publications page.
Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHICH
