global pop, longyearbyen: 06-07.07.081 environmental technology under cold-arctic conditions...

Global POP, Longyearbyen: 06-07.07.08 1

Environmental Technology Environmental Technology under cold-Arctic conditionsunder cold-Arctic conditions

Development and challenges with focus on Development and challenges with focus on

climate change scenariosclimate change scenarios

Roland Kallenborn Roland Kallenborn The University Centre in Svalbard, NorwayThe University Centre in Svalbard, Norway


TechnologyTechnology is the technical means Technology is the technical means people use to improve their people use to improve their surroundings. It is also a knowledge of surroundings. It is also a knowledge of using tools and machines to do tasks using tools and machines to do tasks efficiently. efficiently.

We use technology to control the world We use technology to control the world in which we live. Technology is people in which we live. Technology is people using knowledge, tools, and systems to using knowledge, tools, and systems to make their lives easier and better. make their lives easier and better.


Climate change?Climate change?ACIA`s estimate of global warming in this century


Environmental scenarioEnvironmental scenario

Climate change scenarios are described altering Arctic environmental condition

Changes in sea ice coverage, glaciers and erosion expected. Increase of melt water during spring melt events. Consequences for accessibility and exploitation of natural

resources? Human activities (off-shore installation, new settlements,

mining etc.) Transport routes of goods, petroleum, gas etc. across the

Arctic ocean and on-land Social structures, housing and infrastructures. How to meet the future?


Rockfalls, rockslides and snow avalanches are the most common natural hazard threatening the transport routes on land

Registration of slides, avalanches and floods on highways and main roads 1975- 2005


Frequent wind and storm events

Increasing problems with

regularity on high mountain roads/ railways, and some wind-exposed coastal roads

• Restriction on sea transport • Difficult access to wind exposed

harbors• Reduced regularity in air

transport


Frost heave and thawing (melt water flooding) make roads and railways vulnerable to temperature fluctuations around 0C


Development of communicationsDevelopment of communicationsand pipelines in permafrost areasand pipelines in permafrost areas


Ships traffic in the Arctic OceanAttractive shipping routes through the North East/ Attractive shipping routes through the North East/ North West passageNorth West passage

Increased chances for Increased chances for accidents!accidents!Environmental pollution: Prevention/ Environmental pollution: Prevention/ remediation procedures neededremediation procedures needed


1 - Dudinka – Murmansk – nickel carriage ~1.2 mln. t/year

- options of North-Eastern Sea RootNatural resourses: - gas, - oil - poly-metals and manganites

- timbers, - rare earth metals and apatites

1

Земля Франца-Иосифа

Development of hydrocarbon deposits and mineral resoursesDevelopment of hydrocarbon deposits and mineral resourses


Oil pollution issuesRemediationRemediation

Development of technologies for prevention andDevelopment of technologies for prevention andremediation of oil pollution in Arctic waters is urgently neededremediation of oil pollution in Arctic waters is urgently needed

Safety requirementsSafety requirements


Infrastructures and installationsLandscape erosionLandscape erosion Damages on buildingsDamages on buildings

Permasfrost regime will changePermasfrost regime will change Implication on Waste water treatment, sanitation, Implication on Waste water treatment, sanitation, housing, foundations of infrastructures, mining, pipelines, housing, foundations of infrastructures, mining, pipelines, water and power supply etc.water and power supply etc.Consequences: Occurence and spreading of diseases, reduced Consequences: Occurence and spreading of diseases, reduced living qualityliving quality


~20 m

~120 m

Arctic offshore constructions and ice loadsArctic offshore constructions and ice loads


Climate change in Norwegian Arctic (RegClim 2002)

• Temperature increases 0.2C – 0.5C pr. decade.• Precipitation increases 5 % - 35 % this century• Increasing storm frequency and magnitude• More rain at lower and snow at higher altitudes/

latitudes (increased variability).• Increasing sea level and higher waves and storm

floods


How to meet the futureHow to meet the future

• Better understanding of climate change on local bases• Systematic registration of events and consequences• Improve design of protection measures for all types of human

activities• New design of ditches and culverts • More extensive erosion protection • Reconstruction or improved maintenance of available

infrastructures including roads and harbors • Evaluate functionality of exposed infrastructures like housing,

mining installations, off-shore facilities, pipelines, airports and harbors

• New guidelines and technologies for industrial facilities, settlements, road-, railway- airport- and harbor-constructions are needed


AknowledgementAknowledgement

Lars Grande (NTNU Trondheim) has helped Lars Grande (NTNU Trondheim) has helped shaping the presentation.shaping the presentation.

All scientific members of the UNIS Arctic All scientific members of the UNIS Arctic Technology department have contributed Technology department have contributed with open-minded discussion and comments with open-minded discussion and comments to the here presented ideas.to the here presented ideas.

ICPP, ACIA and AMAP have contributed ICPP, ACIA and AMAP have contributed with figures, pictures and expertisewith figures, pictures and expertise


Thank you for your attention!

global pop, longyearbyen: 06-07.07.081 environmental technology under cold-arctic conditions...

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