| Title | Permafrost characterization at the Iqaluit International Airport, Nunavut, in support of decision-making and planning |
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| Author | LeBlanc, A -M ;
Mathon-Dufour, V; Allard, M; Oldenborger, G A; Short, N; L'Hérault, E; Sladen, W E |
| Source | Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office, Summary of Activities 2012, 2013 p. 131-142  Open Access |
| Links | Online - En ligne
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| Image |  |
| Year | 2013 |
| Alt Series | Earth Sciences Sector, Contribution Series 20120347 |
| Publisher | Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | Nunavut |
| NTS | 25N/15 |
| Area | Iqaluit |
| Lat/Long WENS | -68.5667 -68.5333 63.7667 63.7333 |
| Subjects | surficial geology/geomorphology; engineering geology; permafrost; freezing ground; ground ice; ground temperatures; frost cracks; frost heaving; satellite imagery; thermal analyses; thermal regimes;
RADARSAT-2 |
| Illustrations | location maps; graphs; profiles; images |
| Program | Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office, Funding Program |
| Released | 2013 01 01 |
| Abstract | The Iqaluit International Airport is a key and strategic infrastructure on which the well-being of eastern Canadian Arctic residents depend. Increased passenger traffic and mineral exploration and
development in the Arctic have put pressure on improving this key regional facility. Proposed renovation and expansion of the Iqaluit International Airport must address existing thaw settlement and frost cracking problems that are affecting the
pavement and foundations of the runway and taxiways. Climate warming will also necessitate additional improvements in engineering design in order to adapt to changing terrain and environmental conditions. In order to support informed decision-making
and reduce risk to public investments in northern transportation infrastructure and resource development, a joint Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office, Natural Resources Canada and Université Laval study on the sensitivity of permafrost and terrain
conditions at the airport began in 2010. In 2012, geophysical investigations, including electromagnetic and electrical resistivity surveys, were used to enhance permafrost characterization and monitor spatial and seasonal changes in unfrozen water
content in sensitive areas. RADARSAT-2 image acquisition was also completed in summer 2012 and provided the second year of ground surface movement information by interferometric synthetic aperture radar mapping. Results based on one year of ground
temperature records from under the runway, and interpretation of geophysical surveys and remote sensing data indicate that 1) permafrost temperature is slightly warmer and active layer thickness is slightly thicker under the runway than the
surrounding undeveloped ground; 2) the thawing front under the runway penetrates through the existing embankment into the underlying, largely glaciomarine deltaic sediments and therefore settlement due to melting ice wedges will probably continue; 3)
electrical conductivity anomalies present below taxiway A and under at least one section of the runway are associated with localized settlement problems; and 4) interferometric synthetic aperture radar data on ground surface motion related to frost
heave and thaw settlement provide a good correlation with underlying surficial geology. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 292139 |
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