Assessment of Hazardous Cryogenic Processes Impact on Engineering Facilities in the Arctic

Abstract

Comprehensive studies of the state of the infrastructure in the Russian Arctic were carried out. The degree of deformation of objects and the impact of dangerous cryogenic and nival-glacial processes on the stability of build- ings and constructions were assessed. It was established that a number of cryogenic processes that are dangerous for the infrastructure were developing in urbanized areas of the permafrost zone. They are caused (or activated) by anthropogenic impact or by climatic changes. Thermokarst, thermal erosion and thermal abrasion of banks, icings formation are activating. The tangential forces of frost heaving increase due to the increase of the active layer depth. Almost all the buildings and the life support systems at the territories of the national settlements of the Polar re- gion are in an emergency or pre-emergency state. The percentage of deformation of the engineering infrastructure varies from 20% to 80% in industrial centers, which is often caused by the development of dangerous cryogenic processes. A methodic was developed to assess the negative impact of the most destructive processes on the infra- structure of settlements. It takes into account the degree of damage to the territory, the duration, and repeatability of processes. The risk assessment was carried out for one and a half dozen settlements in the Russian Arctic, with special attention paid to the infrastructure of the north of Western Siberia. The impact of waste disposal on the infrastructure of the Arctic was analyzed. A classification was proposed based on the degree of their influence on permafrost foundations. Proposals on stabilization of geotechnical situation in Arctic cities are given.