Technical and economic challenges for Arctic Coastal settlements due to melting of ice and permafrost in the Arctic

Abstract

The safety of Arctic coastal villages/settlements is of concern due to melting of the ice cover and the permafrost in the Arctic. The immediate concerns for Arctic coastal settlements are due to a number of causes. These causes can be listed as follows: increased distances of open seas during the storm season, larger storm surges due to longer distances of open water without ice cover, larger waves due to longer fetch lengths, increased permafrost melting caused by warmer summer seasons, larger erosion of melted shoreline, increased number of storms causing accumulation of storm erosion effects, large flooding events destroying houses and facilities as well as infrastructure and fresh water reservoirs. There will be possible offshore slides due to melting of offshore permafrost with potential for tsunami generation, and riverbanks will erode due to the melting of permafrost. Slides caused by increased wetness (for example quick clay slides) will occur and housing and water reservoirs will be damaged. Furthermore, the winter seasons are shorter where winter roads can be utilized and the seasons for hunting from the ice cover is shorter. There will be economic losses for the villages/settlements due to changing climate and in the case of needed relocation of the villages, the economic costs are huge. The paper discusses the effects of these concerns and will suggest certain mitigating measures, which only to a limited extent can relieve the situation. The ultimate solution will be relocation of the inhabitants and in some cases the settlement may be relocated to safe location further inland.