Prepare city (Iqaluit) now for climate change, report says

[Newsjock]

Source: Nunatsiaq News

Melting permafrost and high winds fueled by climate change could cause an infrastructure nightmare for Arctic communities, according to a report commissioned by the City of Iqaluit. New Brunswick consultant Debbie Nielsen told Iqaluit city council Wednesday that they need to prepare for the impending impact of climate change on municipal infrastructure.

The report, prepared by New Brunswick consultant Debbie Nielsen, says thawing permafrost could damage roads, buildings and utilidors. The report was presented to council Wednesday.

... Mean temperatures have already increased three to four degrees during the last century. That could pose a huge problem in Arctic environments where construction depends on frozen ground to ensure the stability of buildings.

... Thawed permafrost could cause buildings to settle, damaging them and shortening their lifespan, the report says. Softer ground also means the possibility of damage to treatment plants and upheaval for utilidor pipes, exposing the city to the risk of water contamination. It also means a greater chance that pollutants from once-frozen Arctic landfills could leach into the ground.




Read more: http://nunatsiaq.com/news/iqaluit/4_Prepare_city_now_for_climate_change_report_says.html

[Tempest]

1. They're already seeing this problem in interior Alaska

The permafrost is melting and sink holes are appearing all over the place.

Two houses in my sister's neighborhood in Fairbanks had to be abandoned because sink holes opened up under or along side the houses. The houses were built in the 1960s and the sink holes only started forming in the last couple of years according to the corp of engineers.

[damntexdem]

2. Just wait till the methane starts bubbling out.

Or maybe gushing out.

[Barrett808]

5. Methane is already bubbling out of Siberian lakes

And methane is a much stronger greenhouse gas than CO2.

[Toots]

4. I heard the Oil Pipeline is have structural problems because of this

I have read where the Alaska Pipeline is sagging and bending in places because of "permafrost" melting and becoming boggy. They are planning to build another pipeline right alongside the old one, only for natural gas. I sure hope alaska is wise enough to plan for this climate change..

[donsu]

3. and they have what they call 'crazy forests' as the melting has

caused the trees to lean and or fall down

and some towns have already had to move away from the shoreline

in Alaska

[Lisa]

6. themokarst ... sinkholes, etc.

Already seeing a lot of problems around Tuk, in the Western Arctic.