A generationIn some parts of Russia, life is now very dangerous. Here, the ground is truly separated from people’s feet. This happens more and more frequently, because as the temperature rises, the ground that is frozen deep will thaw. Large holes and landslides in the streets are the most obvious consequences of global warming. Homes are also threatened. “When the permafrost melts, they are at risk of collapse. This is a dangerous trend right now,” said engineer Ali Kerimov. He and other experts in Norilsk now want to make life in the Arctic Ocean safer.
In the industrial city of Norilsk, like many other places in the permafrost, houses are hanging on stilts. “They are 10 to 30 meters deep,” said Kerimow, director of the research and production company Fundament. This construction method can prevent the building from collapsing when the temperature fluctuates. Actually. A crack on the outer wall of the house indicates that the floor is in motion.
Kerimow, 55-year-old dpa, said that when the weather gets warmer, the ground will sink deeper – and the stakes can hardly save the house from collapsing. If the ground is thawed three to five meters deep, it can sink one meter.
A huge freezer
This is a serious problem for the largest country on the planet. Almost two-thirds of Russia’s land is permanently frozen. This phenomenon is called permafrost. In this huge freezer, there are a large number of remains of animals and plants that have not been decomposed by microorganisms. These only become active when the temperature rises and the soil softens.
This is exactly what happens in many areas that are usually known for severe frosts. “Global warming can no longer be denied,” said Mathias Ulrich. University of Leipzig“The Arctic is the center of global warming. Nowhere else on this planet is it as obvious as there.”
The greenhouse effect further intensified
This is not without consequences for permafrost. They are mainly distributed in Alaska, Canada and Siberia, from the Arctic Ocean to parts of the Urals and southern to Mongolia. Researchers worry that as the permafrost melts, large amounts of greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide may be released. “This in turn will further exacerbate the greenhouse effect,” Ulrich predicted.
A team led by Bonn scientist Nikolaus Froitzheim has now discovered that a large amount of methane has been released in two limestone regions in the hot north of Siberia in 2020. Experts worry that the cracks and cave systems in the limestone that were previously filled with ice and gas hydrates have become permeable due to warming, and harmful gases have entered the atmosphere. The research has been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
The direct consequence of climate change Many people in the permafrost have already felt it-right on their doorstep. Buildings, streets and paths become unstable or collapse.
House about to collapse
The consequences were recorded in detail in Norilsk, the northernmost city on the planet. On the list of Mayor Dmitri Karassev, 240 houses had to be renovated because they were damaged or no longer fit for living. One-third of the buildings have been deformed. “We must do everything we can to stabilize the house to avoid accidents,” Karasjo said at the German-Russian Raw Material Conference recently.
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Expert Ulrich said that according to current research, there are currently more than 1,000 settlements and cities built on the frozen ground of the Arctic, with a total population of about 5 million. “The forecast assumes that 42% of these settlements will be free of permafrost in 30 years.” In Russia alone, 20% of all buildings and 19% of infrastructure may be affected by the consequences of global warming.
There is a risk of huge economic losses
The Russian Ministry of Environment estimates that by 2050, the loss caused by the melting of frozen soil may reach 57 billion euros. Money that may be lacking elsewhere, such as for social expenditures.
An example in the spring of 2020 shows that there is a risk of environmental pollution. Near Norilsk, more than 21,000 liters of diesel leaked from a damaged fuel tank because the support sank on the thawing ground. Environmentalists then talked about disasters to nature.
To prevent accidents like this or the collapse of houses, engineer Cremo advocates regular monitoring of frozen floors. “The monitoring system should be set up to predict changes in soil temperature and the possible reduction in the bearing capacity of the foundation five to ten years in advance.” Then there is enough time to find methods and methods. Means “appropriate measures” in order to be implemented more safely and in a timely manner.
Even now, the foundations and floors are being artificially cooled so that the house will not collapse due to the melting of the permafrost. Experts use so-called heat stabilizers. The permafrost expert and his team are also studying new foundation materials that can better withstand temperature fluctuations.
Without a new solution, no more buildings can be built in the future-otherwise the damage will be programmed. The mayor of Norilsk, Karassjow, stated that Norilsk no longer builds high-rise buildings. Since 2002, only smaller buildings have been built on the thawed ground.
