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Recent Challenges of Cryosphere Transformation and Geotechnical Safety of Constructions in the Arctic

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "H: Geo-Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 30728

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Gleb Kraev

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Yamal-Nenets Center of Arctic Research, 629007 Salekhard, Russia
Interests: permafrost; social-ecological systems; climate change adaptation; greenhouse gas; ecosystem services; methane; fluids migration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Sergey Kudryavtsev

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Far Eastern branch department of the Russian Federal Agency for Railway Transport, Far Eastern State Transport University, Ulitsa Serysheva, 47, Khabarovsk, 680000 Khabarovsk Krai, Russia
Interests: geotechnics of structures on permafrost soils
Dr. Alexey Maslakov

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
Interests: permafrost dynamics; active layer of permafrost; coastal erosion, climate change; remote sensing
Dr. Olga Makarieva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Earth Science, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
Interests: permafrost hydrology; dangerous hydrological phenomena; mathematical modelling; climate and landscape changes impact on hydrological regime; groundwater; mountainous hydrology; forecast; aufeis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Intensive exploration of the Arctic continues. Originally sparsely inhabited and still mostly intact lands and offshore areas are currently in the focus of the largest economies of the world. Issues of exploration of the natural resources in these remote areas are comparable to exploration of space by the level of investments and international cooperation. Challenges posed by the extreme conditions force humanity to develop innovative solutions in project design, infrastructure construction, industrial production, transport of natural goods, raw materials or products, and environmental and carbon footprint reduction in the Arctic.

This Special Issue will focus on but not be limited to the following topics:

- Alternative energies in the Arctic, including gas hydrates, shallow gas, and renewables;

- Climate change adaptation of communities and industries in the Arctic;

- Advances in climate change mitigation, including carbon capture and utilization, and nature-based solutions in high latitudes;

- Challenges of infrastructure stability and geohazards associated with permafrost degradation. Reduction of disaster risks associated with cryogenic landslides, coastal retreat, sea ice–construction interactions in the Arctic ocean;

- Industrial and communal wastes and pollution management in Arctic regions.

Case studies and reviews documenting successful and unsuccessful practices of improvement of interactions in social–ecological and industrial systems located in the Arctic will be considered.

Dr. Gleb Kraev
Prof. Dr. Sergey Kudryavtsev
Dr. Alexey Maslakov
Dr. Ogla Makarieva
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • permafrost
  • social-ecological systems in the Arctic
  • climate change adaptation
  • greenhouse gas emission reduction
  • infrastructure stability
  • gas-hydrates and alternative energies in the Arctic
  • waste management
  • environmental footprint
  • geohazards

Published Papers (16 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 2227 KiB  
Article
Past and Future of Permafrost Monitoring: Stability of Russian Energetic Infrastructure
by Vladimir P. Melnikov, Victor I. Osipov, Anatoli V. Brouchkov, Svetlana V. Badina, Marat R. Sadurtdinov, Dmitry S. Drozdov, Galina V. Malkova, Mikhail N. Zheleznyak, Oleg V. Zhdaneev, Nikolay A. Ostarkov, Alexei B. Osokin, Dmitrii O. Sergeev, Vladimir A. Dubrovin, Mikhail E. Kuznetsov, Konstantin N. Frolov, Andrey G. Alekseev and Roman Y. Fedorov
Energies 2022, 15(9), 3190; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15093190 - 27 Apr 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2120
Abstract
This study is an attempt to suggest a new state system of permafrost monitoring, primarily for energetic infrastructure, based on past approaches and achievements in Russia for over a hundred years of Arctic studies. The methodology of this study is based on general [...] Read more.
This study is an attempt to suggest a new state system of permafrost monitoring, primarily for energetic infrastructure, based on past approaches and achievements in Russia for over a hundred years of Arctic studies. The methodology of this study is based on general theoretical methods of scientific research. Historical (retrospective analysis of the development of the monitoring system of long-term permafrost in Russia) and logical (inductive generalization) methods were applied. The structure and methods of permafrost monitoring in the Soviet Union and new technologies used nowadays to establish permafrost monitoring systems, taking into account modern Arctic energetic development, have been analyzed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges of Cryosphere Transformation and Geotechnical Safety of Constructions in the Arctic)
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18 pages, 21471 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Impacts of Climate Change on the Russian Arctic Economy (including the Energy Industry)
by Svetlana Badina and Alexey Pankratov
Energies 2022, 15(8), 2849; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15082849 - 13 Apr 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1738
Abstract
Ongoing climate change most pronounces itself in northern latitudes, including in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF). Climate change is a complex multidirectional process that is characterized by both positive and negative effects on the functioning of territorial economic systems. In [...] Read more.
Ongoing climate change most pronounces itself in northern latitudes, including in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF). Climate change is a complex multidirectional process that is characterized by both positive and negative effects on the functioning of territorial economic systems. In this regard, an analysis of the impacts of climate change on economic development is a particularly urgent scientific and practical task that requires comprehensive study. This research was devoted to assessing the probable impacts of climate transformations on the parameters of the economic development of the AZRF regions. The authors created a methodological approach to the assessment of the costs of the effects of climate change for the economy of the AZRF regions, taking into account the average predicted dynamics of surface air temperature and key regional economic specializations, as well as the degree of susceptibility of various industries to the climate change. The energy industry was considered in particular detail since it is the basis for all of the other industries and is the guarantor of life support for the populations that live in the extreme Arctic climate. Calculations have shown that the accumulated economic effects of climate change as a whole for the AZRF economy during the period 2020–2050 will be negative and have been estimated as having a cost of more than RUB 8 trillion (or nearly USD 111 billion in 2020 prices), which would be about 3% of total Russian Arctic GRP in average annual terms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges of Cryosphere Transformation and Geotechnical Safety of Constructions in the Arctic)
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12 pages, 5193 KiB  
Article
The Structure of Permafrost in Northern West Siberia: Geophysical Evidence
by Natalya Misyurkeeva, Igor Buddo, Ivan Shelokhov, Alexander Smirnov, Alexey Nezhdanov and Yury Agafonov
Energies 2022, 15(8), 2847; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15082847 - 13 Apr 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1422
Abstract
The permafrost of Arctic West Siberia stores extremely rich resources of hydrocarbon fuels that remain a key energy source and an important element of the global economy. A large amount of natural gas in permafrost is bound in gas hydrates which may become [...] Read more.
The permafrost of Arctic West Siberia stores extremely rich resources of hydrocarbon fuels that remain a key energy source and an important element of the global economy. A large amount of natural gas in permafrost is bound in gas hydrates which may become an alternative fuel of the future. Shallow subsurface in the permafrost area of northern West Siberia has been studied by transient electromagnetic (TEM) soundings to estimate the permafrost thickness and to detect faults as channels for fluids and heaving features as possible indicators of gas hydrate accumulations. The shallow transient electromagnetic (sTEM) surveys were conducted in discontinuous and continuous permafrost at two sites in northern West Siberia (the northeastern Yamal Peninsula and the southern Gydan Peninsula), with a focus on the vicinities of lakes and cryogenic landforms (frost mounds). The sTEM method resolves well the heterogeneous permafrost structure, with faults, numerous unfrozen zones (taliks), and frost mounds marked by resistivity and seismic anomalies. Some lakes are located above faults, and their origin may be related to deformation, whereas the frost mounds may mark deep-seated fluid dynamic processes. Local thickening of permafrost may be associated with the presence of gas hydrates. The detected features may trace gas migration pathways and reveal possible sites of gas emission. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges of Cryosphere Transformation and Geotechnical Safety of Constructions in the Arctic)
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11 pages, 1981 KiB  
Article
Emission of Methane and Carbon Dioxide during Soil Freezing without Permafrost
by Chenzheng Li, Anatoly V. Brouchkov, Viktor G. Cheverev, Andrey V. Sokolov and Kunyang Li
Energies 2022, 15(7), 2693; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15072693 - 06 Apr 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1703
Abstract
Research on methane and carbon dioxide emissions mainly focuses on industrial emissions, cultivated land, and wetlands, while few studies have studied freezing-related emissions. This paper presents field experiments conducted during soil freezing to measure carbon dioxide and methane concentrations in the air, near [...] Read more.
Research on methane and carbon dioxide emissions mainly focuses on industrial emissions, cultivated land, and wetlands, while few studies have studied freezing-related emissions. This paper presents field experiments conducted during soil freezing to measure carbon dioxide and methane concentrations in the air, near the soil surface, and in the soil. In addition, the influence of precipitation, snowfall, air temperature, and depth of freezing on gas emissions was analyzed. We observed increased concentrations of methane and carbon dioxide in soil and air at soil freezing and snow cover growth. For the first time, an increase in gas flux during soil freezing was found in the absence of permafrost. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges of Cryosphere Transformation and Geotechnical Safety of Constructions in the Arctic)
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16 pages, 3119 KiB  
Article
Challenges of Hydrological Engineering Design in Degrading Permafrost Environment of Russia
by Olga Makarieva, Nataliia Nesterova, Ali Torabi Haghighi, Andrey Ostashov and Anastasiia Zemlyanskova
Energies 2022, 15(7), 2649; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15072649 - 04 Apr 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1804
Abstract
The study shows that the current network of hydrometeorological observation in the permafrost zone of Russia is insufficient to provide data for the statistical approaches adopted at the state level for engineering surveys and calculations. The alternative to the financially costly and practically [...] Read more.
The study shows that the current network of hydrometeorological observation in the permafrost zone of Russia is insufficient to provide data for the statistical approaches adopted at the state level for engineering surveys and calculations. The alternative to the financially costly and practically impossible expansion of the monitoring network is the development of hydrological research stations and the implementation of new methods for calculating streamflow characteristics based on mathematical modeling. The data of the Kolyma Water-Balance Station, the first research basin in the world in a permafrost environment (1948–1997), and the process-based hydrological model Hydrograph are applied to simulate streamflow hydrographs in remote mountainous permafrost basins. The satisfactory results confirm that mathematical modeling may substitute or replace statistical approaches in the conditions of extreme data insufficiency. The improvement of the models in a changing climate requires the renewal of historical observations at currently abandoned research stations in Russian permafrost regions. The study is important for forming the state policy in climate change adaptation and mitigation measures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges of Cryosphere Transformation and Geotechnical Safety of Constructions in the Arctic)
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19 pages, 6683 KiB  
Article
Spatial and Temporal Variability of Permafrost in the Western Part of the Russian Arctic
by Galina Malkova, Dmitry Drozdov, Alexander Vasiliev, Andrey Gravis, Gleb Kraev, Yuriy Korostelev, Kirill Nikitin, Pavel Orekhov, Olga Ponomareva, Vladimir Romanovsky, Marat Sadurtdinov, Alexandr Shein, Andrey Skvortsov, Maria Sudakova and Andrey Tsarev
Energies 2022, 15(7), 2311; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15072311 - 22 Mar 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2243
Abstract
Climate warming in the Russian Arctic over the past 40 years shows a variety of patterns at different locations and time periods. In the second half of the 20th century, the maximum rates of warming were characteristic of the subarctic permafrost regions of [...] Read more.
Climate warming in the Russian Arctic over the past 40 years shows a variety of patterns at different locations and time periods. In the second half of the 20th century, the maximum rates of warming were characteristic of the subarctic permafrost regions of Russia. But in the 21st century, the locations of the greatest rates of climate warming moved to the Arctic zone of Russia. It was one of the reasons for a sharp increase in permafrost temperatures, an increase in the depth of seasonal thaw, and the formation of closed taliks. It was found that as a result of climate change, the differences in permafrost temperatures between different cryogenic landscapes in the area of continuous and discontinuous permafrost distribution have decreased, and in the area of sporadic permafrost distribution are now practically absent. The thermal regime of the ground shows dramatic changes everywhere with a pronounced reduction in the depth of zero annual amplitude. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges of Cryosphere Transformation and Geotechnical Safety of Constructions in the Arctic)
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11 pages, 2835 KiB  
Article
Experimental Proof of a Solar-Powered Heat Pump System for Soil Thermal Stabilization
by Elizaveta S. Sharaborova, Taisia V. Shepitko and Egor Y. Loktionov
Energies 2022, 15(6), 2118; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15062118 - 14 Mar 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2206
Abstract
We suggested earlier a new sustainable method for permafrost thermal stabilization that combines passive screening of solar radiation and precipitation with active solar-powered cooling of the near-surface soil layer thus preventing heat penetration in depth. Feasibility of this method has been shown by [...] Read more.
We suggested earlier a new sustainable method for permafrost thermal stabilization that combines passive screening of solar radiation and precipitation with active solar-powered cooling of the near-surface soil layer thus preventing heat penetration in depth. Feasibility of this method has been shown by calculations, but needed experimental proof. In this article, we are presenting the results of soil temperature measurements obtained at the experimental implementation of this method outside of the permafrost area which actually meant higher thermal loads than in permafrost area. We have shown that near-surface soil layer is kept frozen during the whole summer, even at air temperatures exceeding +30 °C. Therefore, the method has been experimentally proven to be capable of sustaining soil frozen. In addition to usual building and structures’ thermal stabilization, the method could be used to prevent the development of thermokarst, gas emission craters, and landslides; greenhouse gases, chemical, and biological pollution from the upper thawing layers, at least in the area of human activities; protection against coastal erosion, and permafrost restoration after wildfires. Using commercially widely-available components, the technology can be scaled up for virtually any size objects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges of Cryosphere Transformation and Geotechnical Safety of Constructions in the Arctic)
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21 pages, 4484 KiB  
Article
Multi-Parameter Protocol for Geocryological Test Site: A Case Study Applied for the European North of Russia
by Vladislav Isaev, Arata Kioka, Pavel Kotov, Dmitrii O. Sergeev, Alexandra Uvarova, Andrey Koshurnikov and Oleg Komarov
Energies 2022, 15(6), 2076; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15062076 - 11 Mar 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2023
Abstract
An increase in air temperature leads to a significant transformation of the relief and landscapes of the Arctic. The rate of permafrost degradation, posing a profound change in the Arctic landscape, depends on air temperature, vegetation cover, type of soils, surface and ground [...] Read more.
An increase in air temperature leads to a significant transformation of the relief and landscapes of the Arctic. The rate of permafrost degradation, posing a profound change in the Arctic landscape, depends on air temperature, vegetation cover, type of soils, surface and ground waters. The existing international circumpolar programs dedicated to monitoring the temperature state of permafrost TSP (Thermal State Permafrost) and active layer thickness CALM (Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring) are not sufficient for a comprehensive characterization of geocryological conditions. Yet, no standardized protocol exists for permafrost monitoring and related processes. Here, we propose a novel multi-parameter monitoring protocol and implement it for two sites in the European part of the Russian Arctic: the Yary site along the coast of the Baydaratskaya Bay in the Kara Sea (68.9° N) within the continuous permafrost area and the Hanovey site in the Komi Republic (67.3° N) within the discontinuous permafrost area. The protocol includes drilling boreholes, determining the composition and properties (vegetation cover and soils), snow cover measurement, geophysical imaging, active layer estimation and continuous ground temperature measurements. Ground temperature measured in 2014–2020 revealed that amplitudes of surface temperature fluctuations had no significant differences between the Yary and Hanovey sites, while that the mean annual temperatures between the areas had a considerable difference of greater than 3.0 °C. The period of the presence of the active layer changed with the year (e.g., ranging between 135 and 174 days in the Yary site), showing longer when the air temperatures in summer and the preceding winter were higher. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) allowed determining the permafrost distribution and active layer thicknesses. Thermometry results were consistent with our geophysical data. Analyzing the composition and properties of frozen soils helped better interpret the data of geophysical and temperature measurements. By integrating the study of the soil properties, ground temperatures, and ERT, our work allowed us to fully characterize these sites, suggesting that it helps better understand the thermal state at any other research sites in the European north of Russia. Our suggested monitoring protocol enables calibrating and verifying the numerical and analytical models of the heat transfer through the earth’s surface. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges of Cryosphere Transformation and Geotechnical Safety of Constructions in the Arctic)
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19 pages, 4459 KiB  
Article
Numerical and Experimental Studies of the Use of Fiber-Reinforced Polymers in Long-Span Suspension Bridges
by Yuri Gosteev, Ilya Konovalov, Alexander Lebedev, Alexander Obukhovskiy, Sergey Salenko and Andrey Yashnov
Energies 2022, 15(5), 1864; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15051864 - 03 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1405
Abstract
For the construction of transport infrastructure (including pipeline bridges for oil and gas transportation) in the conditions of the Far North, it is necessary to improve modern regulatory and technological base for using the fiber-reinforcing polymers. It is necessary to conduct searching research [...] Read more.
For the construction of transport infrastructure (including pipeline bridges for oil and gas transportation) in the conditions of the Far North, it is necessary to improve modern regulatory and technological base for using the fiber-reinforcing polymers. It is necessary to conduct searching research to determine the conditions and shapes of application of the fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) in the load-bearing structures of bridges and pipelines through barriers. One such searching research is the study of the use of a suspension hybrid bridge with a superstructure of FRP. For this purpose, the calculations of finite-element models of pedestrian suspension bridges were performed and their aerodynamic stability was investigated on the section models in a wind tunnel. The novelty of the study consists in the proposed additions to the structure of the bridge, and the permissible geometric of the cross-sections of the superstructure were established for ensuring aerodynamic stability. Finally, this was the first time that it was directly established that the strength, stiffness and aerodynamic stability of a suspension hybrid bridge were provided. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges of Cryosphere Transformation and Geotechnical Safety of Constructions in the Arctic)
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16 pages, 4901 KiB  
Article
Applicability of Transient Electromagnetic Surveys to Permafrost Imaging in Arctic West Siberia
by Igor Buddo, Maxim Sharlov, Ivan Shelokhov, Natalya Misyurkeeva, Igor Seminsky, Vasily Selyaev and Yury Agafonov
Energies 2022, 15(5), 1816; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15051816 - 01 Mar 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1943
Abstract
Detection of faults and other zones of weakness in shallow permafrost to a few hundreds of meters is extremely important for ensuring the safety during the production and transportation of fuels (oil and gas). The construction of line facilities (power lines and pipelines) [...] Read more.
Detection of faults and other zones of weakness in shallow permafrost to a few hundreds of meters is extremely important for ensuring the safety during the production and transportation of fuels (oil and gas). The construction of line facilities (power lines and pipelines) should be preceded by detailed surveys in order to localize major areas of potential hazard. Furthermore, reliable geophysical methods are necessary for exploration of gas hydrates. This research aims at proving that induction-based electromagnetic surveys are applicable for permafrost studies and at finding new evidence for the similarity and difference of the permafrost structure in different regions of Northern Siberia. TEM curves are collected in several regions of Northern Siberia with continuous, mostly continuous, and discontinuous permafrost. Transient electromagnetic (TEM) surveys performed in the Russian Arctic image the permafrost structure to a depth of 500 m. The data are acquired with telemetric systems that allow varying the survey design and loop configuration. Advanced processing tools are used to provide geologically essential information from late-time records, while optimized inversion algorithms are applied to obtain high-quality layered resistivity models. The resulting geoelectric models reveal evident variations in the thickness of highly resistive frozen rocks and the presence of unfrozen patches. The induction surveys, which require no galvanic contact with the earth and no grounding, are inferred to be best suitable for imaging the frozen shallow subsurface. The TEM-based resistivity patterns clearly resolve the permafrost base, as well as the contours of unfrozen zones (taliks), lenses of saline water (cryopegs), gas hydrates, and frost heaving features. The reported results can make basis for the choice of geophysical methods for permafrost studies in such harsh conditions as the Russian Arctic. Furthermore, the presented resistivity patterns can make reference for future studies of permafrost in Northern Siberia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges of Cryosphere Transformation and Geotechnical Safety of Constructions in the Arctic)
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16 pages, 3273 KiB  
Article
Heat and Mass Transfer by Vapour in Freezing Soils
by Assel Sarsembayeva, Askar Zhussupbekov and Philip E. F. Collins
Energies 2022, 15(4), 1515; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15041515 - 18 Feb 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1498
Abstract
Vapour mass transfer is often underestimated when designing the bases for structures in frost susceptible soils. Intensive and long-term vapour transport may lead to excessive frost heaving and associated issues. A vapour transport model and the algorithm of its calculation is presented in [...] Read more.
Vapour mass transfer is often underestimated when designing the bases for structures in frost susceptible soils. Intensive and long-term vapour transport may lead to excessive frost heaving and associated issues. A vapour transport model and the algorithm of its calculation is presented in this study based on the results of experimental freeze–thaw cycles of nine soil samples with varied density. The temperature field distribution, air voids volume and the energy comprising latent heat for the phase transition and heat extracted during the temperature drop are the main parameters for determining the vapour velocity and the amount of ice formed. According to the results, the average speed of vapour transport in frozen soils was about 0.4 m/h. The amount of ice built in 1 h during uniaxial freezing due to the saturated vapour pressure difference was 1.64 × 10−5–3.6 × 10−⁵ g/h in loose samples and 1.41 × 10−⁶ g/h to 5.61 × 10−⁷ g/h in dense samples of 10 cm diameter and 10 cm high sections. The results show that vapour mass transfer can increase the risk of ice growth and related problems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges of Cryosphere Transformation and Geotechnical Safety of Constructions in the Arctic)
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19 pages, 8173 KiB  
Article
Research into Cryolithozone Spatial Pattern Changes Based on the Mathematical Morphology of Landscapes
by Alexey Victorov, Veronika Kapralova, Timofey Orlov, Olga Trapeznikova and Maria Arkhipova
Energies 2022, 15(3), 1218; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15031218 - 07 Feb 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1312
Abstract
Lacustrine thermokarst is receiving great interest as a landscape-forming process. Despite this, research dealing with the quantitative analysis of the changes in the morphological patterns of thermokarst plains under ongoing climate change is lacking. This study aims to analyze changes in the morphological [...] Read more.
Lacustrine thermokarst is receiving great interest as a landscape-forming process. Despite this, research dealing with the quantitative analysis of the changes in the morphological patterns of thermokarst plains under ongoing climate change is lacking. This study aims to analyze changes in the morphological patterns of cryolithozone landscapes based on models provided by the mathematical morphology of landscapes. Our research involves eight key sites within lacustrine thermokarst plains and nine key sites within thermokarst plains with fluvial erosion. These sites differ in geomorphological, geocryological, and physiographical terms, and are situated in different regions such as Yamal, Taimyr, Kolyma lowland, river Lena delta, Baffin’s Land, and Alaska. Archival Corona images (date 1) and high-resolution satellite imagery from June to August 2008–2014 (date 2) were used to obtain the model’s morphometric data. According to quantitative analysis of the models, the morphological pattern of the lacustrine thermokarst plains did not undergo significant changes during the observation period, while 20% of the key sites within the thermokarst plains with fluvial erosion underwent essential changes in lake area distributions. This difference may come from the higher reactivity of the fluvial erosion process on climate change than that of the thermokarst. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges of Cryosphere Transformation and Geotechnical Safety of Constructions in the Arctic)
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16 pages, 11541 KiB  
Article
Thermal Simulation of Ice Cellars as a Basis for Food Security and Energy Sustainability of Isolated Indigenous Communities in the Arctic
by Alexey Maslakov, Ksenia Sotnikova, Gleb Gribovskii and Dmitry Evlanov
Energies 2022, 15(3), 972; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15030972 - 28 Jan 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1934
Abstract
Underground storage facilities dug in permafrost, or ice cellars, are a natural means of preserving food in conditions of transport isolation and total energy dependence on imported fuel. In the context of rapidly changing natural conditions, such storage facilities become unstable due to [...] Read more.
Underground storage facilities dug in permafrost, or ice cellars, are a natural means of preserving food in conditions of transport isolation and total energy dependence on imported fuel. In the context of rapidly changing natural conditions, such storage facilities become unstable due to warming and degradation of permafrost. Monitoring and modeling the thermal regime of permafrost soils around ice cellars will help assess the impact of predicted climatic changes and the effectiveness of engineering solutions to sustain these facilities. In this paper, we made an attempt to simulate and predict the thermal regime of permafrost around an ice cellar, located in the community of Lorino, NE Russia. We found out that by 2050 the depth of seasonal thawing of the soil above the storage facility will increase from 1.12–1.74 m to 1.19–2.53 m, while the mean annual ground temperature will increase by only 0.5 °C, regardless of the climatic scenario. Results of the predictive simulation demonstrate significant but not critical changes of the thermal state of permafrost around the ice cellar. In fact, incorrect maintenance of the facility may have higher impact to its stability than climate changes. Some recommendations on preventive measures on increasing the ice cellar stability were provided. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges of Cryosphere Transformation and Geotechnical Safety of Constructions in the Arctic)
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15 pages, 2673 KiB  
Article
Using the Data of Geocryological Monitoring and Geocryological Forecast for Risk Assessment and Adaptation to Climate Change
by Victor Osipov, Oleg Aksyutin, Dmitrii Sergeev, Gennadii Tipenko and Alexandre Ishkov
Energies 2022, 15(3), 879; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15030879 - 26 Jan 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1934
Abstract
Permafrost monitoring should be organized in different ways within undisturbed landscapes and in areas with technogenic impacts. The state and dynamics of permafrost are described by special indicators. It helps to characterize seasonal and long-term tendencies and link them with permafrost hazards estimation. [...] Read more.
Permafrost monitoring should be organized in different ways within undisturbed landscapes and in areas with technogenic impacts. The state and dynamics of permafrost are described by special indicators. It helps to characterize seasonal and long-term tendencies and link them with permafrost hazards estimation. The risk is determined by the hazard probability and the vulnerability of infrastructure elements. The hazard does not have integral indicators, but is determined by separate spatial and temporal characteristics. The spatial characteristics include the ground’s physical and cryolithological features that are linked with the history of the permafrost. The temporal characteristics are associated with the future evolution of the climate and anthropogenic pressures. The geocryological monitoring content and geocryological forecasting are interdependent and should be implemented together. The adaptation recommendations are based on the analytical algorithms and use the results of permafrost monitoring and permafrost state forecasting. The development of an adaptation program is a recognition of the company’s responsibility for the sustainable development of resource management territories. Risk management uses the methods of the flexible ground temperature regime management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges of Cryosphere Transformation and Geotechnical Safety of Constructions in the Arctic)
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15 pages, 4524 KiB  
Article
Soil State Testing Using Heavy Vehicle Vibrations
by Natalia K. Kapustian, Galina N. Antonovskaya and Irina P. Orlova
Energies 2022, 15(3), 830; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15030830 - 24 Jan 2022
Viewed by 1968
Abstract
Changes in the elastic characteristics of the railway subgrade have been determined using nonstop long-term (more than 50 days) train passage seismic observations. We examined the records of the broadband sensitive seismometer TC-120s in the low-frequency band (below 0.1 Hz) to obtain the [...] Read more.
Changes in the elastic characteristics of the railway subgrade have been determined using nonstop long-term (more than 50 days) train passage seismic observations. We examined the records of the broadband sensitive seismometer TC-120s in the low-frequency band (below 0.1 Hz) to obtain the subgrade response to various train passages and its relaxation after unloading. Analytical models of subgrade deformation by the train are proposed. When comparing models in the experiment, we showed that a lowpass filter (below 0.1 Hz) provides waveforms with parameters determined by the deformation properties of the soil. We carried out statistical processing of 1600 train seismic records and determined parameters characterizing the subgrade reaction to the vibration effects created by trains in the ultra-low-frequency range. Therefore, we can use these parameters to monitor after daily averaging and weekly smoothing. When observing the spring thawing of the soil, we considered the sensitivity of seismic monitoring using heavy vehicle vibrations, particularly changes in the soil state properties under a rise in ambient temperature. The presented observations can be used for seismic monitoring technology at an early stage of hazardous processes in the subgrade. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges of Cryosphere Transformation and Geotechnical Safety of Constructions in the Arctic)
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16 pages, 6114 KiB  
Article
Shallow Permafrost at the Crystal Site of Peaceful Underground Nuclear Explosion (Yakutia, Russia): Evidence from Electrical Resistivity Tomography
by Svetlana Artamonova, Alexander Shein, Vladimir Potapov, Nikolay Kozhevnikov and Vladislav Ushnitsky
Energies 2022, 15(1), 301; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15010301 - 03 Jan 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1463
Abstract
The site where a peaceful underground nuclear explosion, Crystal, was detonated in 1974, at a depth of 98 m in perennially frozen Cambrian limestones, was studied by electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) in 2019. The purpose of our research, the results of which [...] Read more.
The site where a peaceful underground nuclear explosion, Crystal, was detonated in 1974, at a depth of 98 m in perennially frozen Cambrian limestones, was studied by electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) in 2019. The purpose of our research, the results of which are presented in this article, was to assess the current permafrost state at the Crystal site and its surroundings by inversion and interpretation of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) data. Inversion of the ERT data in Res2Dinv verified against ZondRes2D forward models yielded 2D inverted resistivity sections to a depth of 80 m. The ERT images revealed locally degrading permafrost at the Crystal site and its surroundings. The warming effect was caused by two main factors: (i) a damage zone of deformed rocks permeable to heat and fluids, with a radius of 160 m around the emplacement hole; (ii) the removal of natural land cover at the site in 2006. The artificial cover of rock from a nearby quarry, which was put up above the emplacement hole in order to prevent erosion and migration of radionuclides, is currently unfrozen. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Challenges of Cryosphere Transformation and Geotechnical Safety of Constructions in the Arctic)
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