Subsidence risk from thawing permafrost (original) (raw)

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• Published: 19 April 2001

Nature volume 410, pages 889–890 (2001) Cite this article

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The threat to man-made structures across regions in the far north can be monitored.

Abstract

The thawing and disappearance of permafrost has accelerated in recent decades1, damaging buildings and infrastructure and causing public concern2. Here we offer a geographic overview of the hazard potential associated with thawing permafrost in the Northern Hemisphere which indicates that vulnerability to subsidence is widespread. Much of the existing infrastructure erected in northern regions is located in areas of high hazard potential and could be affected by thaw subsidence under conditions of global warming.

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Figure 1: Permafrost hazard potential in the Northern Hemisphere.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Geography and Center for Climatic Research, University of Delaware, Newark, 19716, Delaware, USA
   Frederick E. Nelson & Nikolay I. Shiklomanov
2. State Hydrological Institute, Second Line VO 23, St Petersburg, 199053, Russia
   Oleg A. Anisimov

Authors

1. Frederick E. Nelson
2. Oleg A. Anisimov
3. Nikolay I. Shiklomanov

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Correspondence toFrederick E. Nelson.

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Nelson, F., Anisimov, O. & Shiklomanov, N. Subsidence risk from thawing permafrost.Nature 410, 889–890 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35073746

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• Issue date: 19 April 2001
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/35073746

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