Permafrost thaw and northern infrastructure
Climate change impacts story map, created by Yukon University Research Centre By Heather Desserud When a warming climate causes permafrost thaw, the changes affect the very foundations of Northern life. In northern communities, infrastructure, buildings and transportation networks are often constructed over a permafrost base, which is vulnerable to changes to climate and rapidly warming Arctic temperatures. This can spell disaster for the structures above, damaging buildings and roads as the permafrost degrades beneath. Permafrost thaw also releases damaging contaminants into the ecosystem, impacting food chains and community health. Dr. Fabrice Calmels is the Research Chair of Permafrost and Geoscience at Yukon University, investigating the...