| Title | Active layer detachment slides and retrogressive thaw slumps susceptibility mapping for current and future permafrost distribution, Yukon Alaska Highway Corridor |
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| Author | Blais-Stevens, A ;
Kremer, M; Bonnaventure, P P; Smith, S L; Lipovsky, P;
Lewkovicz, A G |
| Source | Engineering Geology for Society and Territory - Volume 1; by Lollino, G (ed.); Manconi, A (ed.); Clague, J (ed.); Shan, W (ed.); Chiarle, M (ed.); 2015 p. 449-453, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09300-0 86 |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2015 |
| Alt Series | Earth Sciences Sector, Contribution Series 20130369 |
| Publisher | Springer International Publishing |
| Document | book |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; digital; on-line |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | Yukon |
| NTS | 105A/01; 105A/02; 105A/03; 105A/04; 105A/05; 105A/06; 105A/07; 105A/11; 105A/12; 105A/13; 105B; 105C; 105D; 105E; 105F; 105G/01; 105G/02; 105G/03; 105G/04; 105G/05; 105G/06; 105G/07; 105G/11; 105G/12;
105G/13; 115A; 115B; 115C; 115F; 115G; 115H |
| Area | Whithorse; Kluane Lake; Haines Junction |
| Lat/Long WENS | -141.0000 -128.0000 62.0000 60.0000 |
| Subjects | engineering geology; surficial geology/geomorphology; landslides; landslide deposits; slumps; slump structures; slope deposits; slope failures; slope stability; permafrost; freezing ground; ground
ice |
| Illustrations | location maps; photographs; tables |
| Program | Environmental Geoscience environmental impacts and adaptation in the northern environment |
| Released | 2014 08 24 |
| Abstract | The Yukon portion of the Alaska Highway Corridor traverses the discontinuous permafrost zone. Air-photos and high resolution satellite imagery were used to produce an updated landslide inventory (2013)
that identified 1400 landslides in the corridor. Landslide susceptibility models were developed for the corridor for two types of landslides triggered in permafrost, active layer detachment slides (ALD) and retrogressive thaw slumps (RTS), which
comprise about 3% of the inventory. A qualitative heuristic approach was used to combine data layers for slope, vegetation, surficial geology unit, slope aspect, and permafrost distribution. ALD and RTS susceptibility maps were produced for present
day permafrost distribution and also equilibrium permafrost distribution resulting from air temperature increases of 1 to 5°C. The resulting susceptibility maps indicate that with warming and reduced permafrost extent, there will be fewer zones of
high susceptibility. The maps for warmer conditions give a "snapshot" of a potential decrease in zones of high landslide susceptibility, but they do not show the potential landslide occurrence as permafrost warms and thaws. It is expected that as
permafrost warms and thaws, ALD and RTS activity will increase until conditions stabilize as permafrost disappears. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
This is study is funded by the Program for Energy Research and Development within the Environmental Geoscience Program. It is a collaboration with the
Yukon Geological Survey and the University of Ottawa. Our aim is to fill knowledge gaps related to landslides triggered in permafrost for a potential pipeline route along the Alaska Highway Corridor. The landslide susceptibility model approach
incorporated data layers such as slope, slope aspect, vegetation, surface sediment type, and high resolution permafrost distribution. Using high resolution permafrost distribution models, we created landslide susceptibility maps for current
conditions and future warming conditions up to 5°C for active layer detachment slides and retrogressive thaw slumps. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 293411 |
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