Climate change and infrastructure development drive ice-rich permafrost thaw in Point Lay (Kali), Alaska
Permafrost thaw and thermokarst development pose urgent challenges to Arctic communities, threatening infrastructure and essential services. This study examines the reciprocal impacts of permafrost degradation and infrastructure in Point Lay (Kali), Alaska, drawing on field data from ∼60 boreholes,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research: Ecology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-664X/adf1ac |
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| _version_ | 1849250739779534848 |
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| author | Benjamin M Jones Mikhail Z Kanevskiy Billy Connor Jana Peirce Bill Tracey Sr Kuoiqsik Curtis Frank E Urban Serina Wesen Yuri Shur Christopher V Maio |
| author_facet | Benjamin M Jones Mikhail Z Kanevskiy Billy Connor Jana Peirce Bill Tracey Sr Kuoiqsik Curtis Frank E Urban Serina Wesen Yuri Shur Christopher V Maio |
| author_sort | Benjamin M Jones |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Permafrost thaw and thermokarst development pose urgent challenges to Arctic communities, threatening infrastructure and essential services. This study examines the reciprocal impacts of permafrost degradation and infrastructure in Point Lay (Kali), Alaska, drawing on field data from ∼60 boreholes, measured and modeled ground temperature records, remote sensing analysis, and community interviews. Field campaigns from 2022–2024 reveal widespread thermokarst development and ground subsidence driven by the thaw of ice-rich permafrost. Borehole analysis confirms excess-ice contents averaging ∼40%, with syngenetic ice wedges extending over 12 m deep. Measured and modeled ground temperature data indicate a warming trend, with increasing mean annual ground temperatures and active layer thickness (ALT). Since 1949, modeled ALTs have generally deepened, with a marked shift toward consistently thicker ALTs in the 21st century. Remote sensing shows ice wedge thermokarst expanded from <5% in 1949 to >60% in developed areas by 2019, with thaw rates increasing tenfold between 1974 and 2019. In contrast, adjacent, undisturbed tundra exhibited more consistent thermokarst expansion (∼0.2% yr ^−1 ), underscoring the amplifying role of infrastructure, surface disturbance, and climate change. Community interviews reveal the lived consequences of permafrost degradation, including structural damage to homes, failing utilities, and growing dependence on alternative water and wastewater strategies. Engineering recommendations include deeper pile foundations, targeted ice wedge stabilization, aboveground utilities, enhanced snow management strategies, and improved drainage to mitigate ongoing infrastructure issues. As climate change accelerates permafrost thaw across the Arctic, this study highlights the need for integrated, community-driven adaptation strategies that blend geocryological research, engineering solutions, and local and Indigenous knowledge. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1a6e1f1187f84a58a6ca0071a261fc8a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2752-664X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research: Ecology |
| spelling | doaj-art-1a6e1f1187f84a58a6ca0071a261fc8a2025-08-20T03:57:09ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research: Ecology2752-664X2025-01-014303500310.1088/2752-664X/adf1acClimate change and infrastructure development drive ice-rich permafrost thaw in Point Lay (Kali), AlaskaBenjamin M Jones0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1517-4711Mikhail Z Kanevskiy1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0565-0187Billy Connor2Jana Peirce3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4906-0632Bill Tracey Sr4Kuoiqsik Curtis5Frank E Urban6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1329-1703Serina Wesen7Yuri Shur8Christopher V Maio9Institute of Northern Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks , Fairbanks, AK, United States of AmericaInstitute of Northern Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks , Fairbanks, AK, United States of AmericaInstitute of Northern Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks , Fairbanks, AK, United States of AmericaInstitute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks , Fairbanks, AK, United States of AmericaACTION Community Advisory Board Member, Native Village of Point Lay (Kali) , AK, United States of AmericaACTION Community Advisory Board Member, Native Village of Point Lay (Kali) , AK, United States of AmericaU.S. Geological Survey , Denver, CO, United States of AmericaUkpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation Science (UICS) , Utqiaġvik, AK, United States of AmericaInstitute of Northern Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks , Fairbanks, AK, United States of AmericaGeophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks , Fairbanks, AK, United States of AmericaPermafrost thaw and thermokarst development pose urgent challenges to Arctic communities, threatening infrastructure and essential services. This study examines the reciprocal impacts of permafrost degradation and infrastructure in Point Lay (Kali), Alaska, drawing on field data from ∼60 boreholes, measured and modeled ground temperature records, remote sensing analysis, and community interviews. Field campaigns from 2022–2024 reveal widespread thermokarst development and ground subsidence driven by the thaw of ice-rich permafrost. Borehole analysis confirms excess-ice contents averaging ∼40%, with syngenetic ice wedges extending over 12 m deep. Measured and modeled ground temperature data indicate a warming trend, with increasing mean annual ground temperatures and active layer thickness (ALT). Since 1949, modeled ALTs have generally deepened, with a marked shift toward consistently thicker ALTs in the 21st century. Remote sensing shows ice wedge thermokarst expanded from <5% in 1949 to >60% in developed areas by 2019, with thaw rates increasing tenfold between 1974 and 2019. In contrast, adjacent, undisturbed tundra exhibited more consistent thermokarst expansion (∼0.2% yr ^−1 ), underscoring the amplifying role of infrastructure, surface disturbance, and climate change. Community interviews reveal the lived consequences of permafrost degradation, including structural damage to homes, failing utilities, and growing dependence on alternative water and wastewater strategies. Engineering recommendations include deeper pile foundations, targeted ice wedge stabilization, aboveground utilities, enhanced snow management strategies, and improved drainage to mitigate ongoing infrastructure issues. As climate change accelerates permafrost thaw across the Arctic, this study highlights the need for integrated, community-driven adaptation strategies that blend geocryological research, engineering solutions, and local and Indigenous knowledge.https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-664X/adf1acArcticclimate changecommunity-based observationsinfrastructurepermafrostthermokarst |
| spellingShingle | Benjamin M Jones Mikhail Z Kanevskiy Billy Connor Jana Peirce Bill Tracey Sr Kuoiqsik Curtis Frank E Urban Serina Wesen Yuri Shur Christopher V Maio Climate change and infrastructure development drive ice-rich permafrost thaw in Point Lay (Kali), Alaska Environmental Research: Ecology Arctic climate change community-based observations infrastructure permafrost thermokarst |
| title | Climate change and infrastructure development drive ice-rich permafrost thaw in Point Lay (Kali), Alaska |
| title_full | Climate change and infrastructure development drive ice-rich permafrost thaw in Point Lay (Kali), Alaska |
| title_fullStr | Climate change and infrastructure development drive ice-rich permafrost thaw in Point Lay (Kali), Alaska |
| title_full_unstemmed | Climate change and infrastructure development drive ice-rich permafrost thaw in Point Lay (Kali), Alaska |
| title_short | Climate change and infrastructure development drive ice-rich permafrost thaw in Point Lay (Kali), Alaska |
| title_sort | climate change and infrastructure development drive ice rich permafrost thaw in point lay kali alaska |
| topic | Arctic climate change community-based observations infrastructure permafrost thermokarst |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-664X/adf1ac |
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