Conquering the permafrost: urban infrastructure development in Norilsk, Russiaстатья
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Дата последнего поиска статьи во внешних источниках: 22 апреля 2020 г.
Аннотация: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.