Case Study of Degrading Permafrost beneath a Road Embankment
Publication: Journal of Cold Regions Engineering
Volume 23, Issue 3
Abstract
This paper reports on a case study of degrading permafrost beneath a road embankment in Northern Manitoba, Canada. Field measurements of ground temperatures for a three-year monitoring period have been used in calibrating the geothermal model developed to reproduce the conditions and trends in the subsurface thermal regime beneath the embankment. The numerical model was used to investigate the future ground thermal regime of the foundation and evaluate the potential impacts of embankment construction and climate change. Particular interest was paid to the foundation soil near the toe of embankment where relatively rapid permafrost degradation was occurring.
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Acknowledgments
Financial support for this study has been provided by Manitoba Climate Change Action Fund, Environment Canada, Western Diversification Fund, and Natural Resources Canada. MIT provided field data from thermistor readings and site investigation along PR 290.
References
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Cold Regions Engineering
Volume 23 • Issue 3 • September 2009
Pages: 93 - 111
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Aug 16, 2005
Accepted: May 22, 2009
Published online: Aug 14, 2009
Published in print: Sep 2009
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