Thawing permafrost
To address the challenges posed by thawing permafrost, several adaptation measures can be put in place. These include monitoring systems, the mapping of landslide vulnerability or risk, measures to strengthen buildings, changes to building subsidies and standards, the relocation of infrastructure at risk of collapse, and public awareness and education.
Monitoring and mapping system
Establishing regular monitoring and accurate and regular mapping of permafrost areas is essential. It identifies the most vulnerable areas and assesses changes over time. In Quebec, various government agencies and members of northern communities are working to better understand and monitor the phenomenon of permafrost thawing.
Several university researchers at the Centre d’études nordiques [Northern Studies Centre] at Laval University are also mapping permafrost conditions in Nunavik to identify the distribution of different permafrost categories in that region. Like monitoring systems, mapping leads to greater understanding and a better response to the phenomenon.
Improved understanding of permafrost thawing trends and distribution enables the development of adaptation policies and measures to protect infrastructure, communities and the fragile ecosystem of northern Quebec.
Structural measures
The use of physical adaptation measures is also essential to strengthen and protect infrastructure from damage caused by permafrost thawing. This includes the use of specific construction techniques, such as foundations with deep piles extending to the stable soil below permafrost. This technique reduces the risks associated with soil movements when permafrost thaws, by fixing piles in the more stable soil deep below.
Other techniques such as heat drains or thermosyphon coolers extract heat from road embankments during the winter. This aims to reduce the heat entering the roads and reduce their degradation. These techniques minimize the effects of permafrost degradation by using local climate characteristics to maintain cooler temperatures in areas affected by permafrost thawing.
Bigger subsidies and stricter building standards
The rehabilitation of existing roads and buildings damaged by thawing permafrost incurs significant costs to northern communities and local authorities. As part of the 2030 Plan for a Green Economy, the Quebec government contributed $2.2 million to the Société d’habitation du Québec to assess the vulnerability of Nunavik’s social housing to thawing permafrost and to implement a plan for intervention.
In addition to subsidies, updating building codes and standards to ensure the resilience of new infrastructure to future climate risks is also essential. The Bureau de normalisation du Québec has developed a standard that defines a methodology for conducting various geotechnical studies for foundations built in permafrost zones. In the long term, the application of this standard will help to reduce persistent maintenance problems related to permafrost thawing.
Specific building standards and guides have also been developed in Canada to adapt transportation infrastructure and buildings to the thawing permafrost.
The Northern Infrastructure Standardization Initiative
The Standards Council of Canada has established the Northern Infrastructure Standardization Initiative, which provides infrastructure standards developed by and for the North. The purpose of this document is to guide owners and administrators in building and maintaining resilient infrastructure, especially in the face of thawing permafrost.
Other measures
Other adaptation measures can be considered, such as moving infrastructure to more stable terrain. It is also important to promote awareness and community-based knowledge-sharing networks on regional climate hazards, including thawing permafrost. As a last resort, the relocation of certain communities may be considered if there is a danger to their health and safety.
Return to the impacts of thawing permafrost
