Abstract
We suggested earlier a new sustainable method for permafrost thermal stabilization that combines passive screening of solar radiation and precipitation with active solar-powered cooling of the near-surface soil layer thus preventing heat penetration in depth. Feasibility of this method has been shown by calculations, but needed experimental proof. In this article, we are presenting the results of soil temperature measurements obtained at the experimental implementation of this method outside of the permafrost area which actually meant higher thermal loads than in permafrost area. We have shown that near-surface soil layer is kept frozen during the whole summer, even at air temperatures exceeding +30 °C. Therefore, the method has been experimentally proven to be capable of sustaining soil frozen. In addition to usual building and structures’ thermal stabilization, the method could be used to prevent the development of thermokarst, gas emission craters, and landslides; greenhouse gases, chemical, and biological pollution from the upper thawing layers, at least in the area of human activities; protection against coastal erosion, and permafrost restoration after wildfires. Using commercially widely-available components, the technology can be scaled up for virtually any size objects.
Highlights
Permafrost is characterized by a subzero temperature of rocks and/or soil for two or more years and the absence of seasonal thawing
Permafrost regions shrunk by ca. 10%, and each 1 ◦ C of warming leads to a loss of ca. 5.8 million km2
Unlike thermosyphon-based systems [9] buried to ca. 10 m, to ca. 10 m, we suggest cooling the near-surface layer and, prevent the heat we suggest cooling the near-surface layer and, prevent the heat penetration in penetration in depth, significantly reducing the active layer thickness to the ground depth, significantly reducing the active layer thickness to the ground probes’ position probes’
Summary
Permafrost is characterized by a subzero temperature of rocks and/or soil for two or more years and the absence of seasonal thawing. The general trend for global temperature increase leads to permafrost thawing. Global warming is currently most pronounced in the Arctic, twice faster than the global average, leading to up to 0.7 ◦ C/decade air and 1.0 ◦ C/decade soil temperature increase [1–4]. This leads to permafrost thawing resulting in ground deformation, among other things. Permafrost exists in 3.56 million km of alpine regions, where its thawing leads to rock and ice falls, landslides, and floods. Even if permafrost still has a negative temperature, its bearing capacity could be significantly reduced
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