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Conquering the permafrost: urban infrastructure development in Norilsk, Russia

2017; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 40; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/1088937x.2017.1329237

1939-0513

N. I. Shiklomanov, D. A. Streletskiy, V. I. Grebenets, Luis Suter,

Climate change and permafrost

The city of Norilsk represents an unprecedented case of massive construction in the permafrost regions of the Arctic. Norilsk's urban expansion can be attributed to the development of engineering practices that maintained the thermal stability of permafrost. However, complex interactions between the urban landscape and permafrost have resulted in permafrost warming and degradation. Negative cryogenic processes started to manifest themselves 10–15 years after the initial development and have intensified with time. Problems were further exacerbated by the poor quality of construction, improper operation of the city infrastructure, socio-economic transitions, and unanticipated climatic changes. The warming and degradation of permafrost have contributed to a widespread deformation of structures in Norilsk. In this paper, we discuss the role of permafrost in the urban development of Norilsk, specific human- and climate-induced geotechnical problems related to permafrost, and innovative economically viable solutions to maintain city infrastructure. The analysis of Norilsk's experiences with permafrost can potentially contribute to the development of sustainable practices for Arctic urbanization.