Permafrost
Damage
What damages permafrost thawing can cause?
In 2019, the United Nations (UN) stated that the thawing of permafrost is one of the five most significant emerging environmental issues.
AWI(Alfred-Wegener-Institut)(2016, March 8)
Permafrost - what is it? [mp4]
Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxixy1u8GjY
Rising security risks
Civilian and military infrastructures in regions with permafrost face a direct threat due to ongoing and potential future thawing. When thawing, permafrost releases its long-buried elements into the environment, which can be dangerous — it's organic gas is converted into greenhouse gasses (carbon dioxide and the extremely potent methane). The mercury trapped inside can be toxic for humans and animals, and the thousand-year-old viruses can have unknown or forgotten effects.
IMAGE CREDIT: Julia Bartoli and Chantal Abergel
IMAGE CREDIT: frost3d
Energy risks
Many gases and oil pipelines are built in the permafrost region. As permafrost thawing causes its foundation to weaken, it can lead to serious energy and environmental issues.
For example, over 30 percent of ESPO (Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean) pipelines and over 40 percent of TASP (Trans-Alaska Pipeline System ) pipelines are located in areas where permafrost is projected to thaw by 2050. These pipelines from Russia constitute nearly 40 percent of the EU’s total gas imports. ESPO provides a significant amount of crude oil to Asia-Pacific markets, particularly to China, Japan and South Korea. Even in 2020, permafrost thawing weakened the foundations of a storage tank in Arctic Russia, causing a major fuel spill. The potential energy risks are serious, and will continue to have devastating social and economic effects.
Environmental risks
By releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere (known as the ‘permafrost carbon feedback’), permafrost thaw could significantly accelerate global warming. This could potentially contribute to other climate-related security challenges, such as the opening of an Arctic commercial passage, soon made possible by the melting of the polar ice cap.
